The aircraft was travelling to Chakeri in Kanpur
KANPUR: A major tragedy was averted after a Coast Guard Dornier 228 aircraft which took off from Chennai, skidded off the runway during touchdown at Chakeri airport, rammed into a concrete structure and burst into flames, reports Faiz Siddiqui.
The crew, including IAF personnel, who were scheduled to visit the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited facility in Kanpur, wriggled out of the craft in the nick of time. Nobody was injured, said official sources. Chakeri airport director B K Jha said cause of the accident is being ascertained.
Chakeri airport director B K Jha said, the Dornier’s left engine developed a snag and the aircraft veered off the runway and halted after collision with a concrete structure near the tarmac.
The incident, which occurred three days ago, came to light after a video went viral on Sunday. In the visuals, the IAF personnel can be seen hurriedly disembarking and rushing towards the cockpit side to rescue the trapped crew. TOI, however, doesn’t confirm veracity of the video.
Dornier 228 is a twin-engine turboprop, highly versatile multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by HAL for Indian Coast Guard. “The aircraft is lightweight with varied operating speeds and is fuel-efficient. It has swift role-changing capabilities from maritime patrol & surveillance, to marine pollution contingency, search & rescue to medical evacuation,” said an official.
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