MDLR airplane's trial run ends in disaster

Kullu, Apr 26 (UNI) The MDLR's, four-jet engine aircraft BAE Avro RJ-70, trail run ended in a disaster today with the rear wheels of the airplane bursting soon after it touched the ground, though without any loss of life, Kullu's DSP Amar Chand said.

''As soon as the 70-seater airplane touched the Bhuntar airport ground, its rear wheels burst this morning,'' he told UNI here and added that the pilot, his co-pilot, DGM and two other engineers escaped unhurt in the incident.

Mr Chand said the airplane was on a trial run with no passengers on board and came to an abrupt halt after the wheels burst. No loss of life has been reported in the accident, he added.

The aircraft with six club-class seats is to start two commercial flights on a daily basis from Chandigarh-Kullu-Delhi and Delhi-Kullu-Chandigarh from Monday.

The flight would take 40 minutes to Delhi and 20 minutes to Chandigarh from Bhuntar and would have 64 economy and six club-fare seats.

The MDLR's management has also announced an introductory price of Rs 1,800 (inclusive of all taxes) on the Kullu-Delhi and Kullu-Chandigarh sectors.

UNI XC AS VKJ GL DS1508