Air Mauritius plane catches fire before take off; passengers safe

New Delhi, Jul 24 (UNI) A major tragedy was averted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport this afternoon when fire was detected in the undercarriage of an Air Mauritius aircraft which was about to take off.

Sources at IGI Airport said the captain of the aircraft noticed fire in the undercarriage as the plane was about to take off from runway 27. He aborted the take off and informed the air traffic controller who in turn pressed the fire tenders.

The passengers were evacuated from the plane around 1420 hrs and the fire was extinguished soon after that, sources added.

The aircraft was carrying 241 passengers and 11 crew members.

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