KOLKATA: More than 100 passengers were stranded at Kolkata airport early Thursday after a water tanker hit a Qatar Airways aircraft, which was preparing to take off for Doha.
Around 2. 30 am, when passengers were boarding the plane, a water tanker hit the belly of the Doha-bound flight, near the landing gear, an official of Airports Authority of India (AAI) said.
The plane was immediately grounded for inspection and the passengers were safely de-boarded, he said.
No one was hurt in the accident, the official noted.
"All 103 passengers of the flight have been provided accommodation at a nearby hotel. They will be taking the 3 am flight to Doha tomorrow (Friday)," he said.
Initial inspection suggests that the water tanker had technical issues, the brake wasn't functioning properly, the AAI official added.
Meanwhile, a source in the DGCA said an inquiry has been initiated into the incident. "We will take corrective measures based on the inquiry report," he said.