Chennai, Sep 3 (IANS): Sixty-seven passengers of Chennai-Tuticorin Spicejet flight had a narrow escape Tuesday morning at the Tuticorin airport after one of the plane's engines caught fire, said an airport official.

"We noticed smoke from one of the engines. The Bombardier aircraft had landed and was at the parking bay. Immediately, the main fire tender was pressed into service and the fire was contained with water and foam," the official told IANS over phone from Tuticorin, around 650 km from here.

He said the fire/smoke was due to oil spillage inside the engine and it is first of its kind incident at the Tuticorin airport.

According to him, the passengers embarked in a normal manner.

Officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are inspecting the aircraft, he added.

The airline has mobilised men and materials to set right the engine and it is expected to get over in a day, he said.

Despite several attempts by IANS, officials of Spicejet, majorly owned by media baron Kalanithi Maran, were not available for comment.