Jaiswal's plane catches fire

Varanasi, Apr 8 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal had a narrow escape this afternoon when one of the engines of the Jet Airways plane he was boarding started billowing fumes shortly after landing at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport here.

Airport security sources told UNI that the incident occurred with the Jet Airways flight No. 9W723 which among others had Mr Jaiswal on board.

The incident occurred at 1215 hrs just when the passengers had deboarded the Delhi-Varanasi-Khajuraho flight, as owing to overheating and overflow of excess fuel, one of the engines of the aircraft started billowing fumes.

Spotting the fumes the pilots called up CISF personnel deployed at the Airport, who immediately surrounded the plane for security reasons. Fire fighters were pressed into service who doused the flame within seven minutes, sources added.

Later engineers were pressed into action who repaired the snag urgently and the plane left for Khajuraho at 1259 hrs, sources added.

Mr Jaiswal was in the city to attend personal engagements and also for electioneering.

UNI