Scare on Spicejet flight

Tirupati: Passengers of a Tirupati-Hyderabad-New Delhi Spicejet flight had a narrow escape when their aircraft was halted during its take-off run at the Renigunta airport after an obstruction was detected on the runway on Friday evening.

Top DGCA sources said that the pilot of Spicejet flight SG236 was told that a dog was sighted on the runway. Other reports said a jeep had broken down on the runway.

The passengers were merely told that there was a technical snag and were not informed of the nature of the problem even as darkness fell outside.

When contacted, Spicejet officials said it was a technical glitch, and the decision to fly was taken by the flight commander.

Asked specifically if the pilot had noticed some object on the runway, they replied in the negative. The flight was scheduled to take off from the Renigunta airport at 5.55 pm. It took off after almost 50 minutes, and reached Hyderabad airport at 7.45 pm.