Deflated tyre forces Jet''s Chennai flight to abort take-off

Kochi, Feb 17 (PTI) A Jet Airways plane to Chennaiaborted take-off today when the pilot detected a deflated tyreand smoke was noticed while taxiing.

None of the 48 passengers and four crew members on boardwas injured in the incident involving the airline''s Cochin-Chennai flight 9W 2730, airport sources said.

As the aircraft was taxiing for take-off at around 1230hours, the pilot became aware of a deflated tyre. The airtraffic control also noticed some smoke coming out due toresultant friction.

The passengers were quickly deplaned and the runwayremained closed for about 30 minutes till the aircraftwas hauled to the parking bay, the sources said.

An airline spokesperson said that as per standardoperating procedure and in the interest of safety, the Captainordered "precautionary evacuation" of passengers.

The airline later made arrangements for the onwardjourney of passengers through Air India, the spokespersonsaid, adding that an engineering team was carrying outinspection and assessment.