Times of India
MUMBAI, May 1: It was a close shave for the Kingfisher flight to Baroda when its tow-bar tractor (a vehicle attached to the aircraft to push it to the taxiway) hit its nose-wheel gear on Thursday afternoon. All the 46 passengers on board had to be deplaned immediately and the aircraft had to be towed for a thorough check. The IT 3193 flight from Mumbai to Vadodra was stranded between the parking bay and taxiway, delaying other flights lined behind it.
The incident occurred at 4.40pm when the flight was preparing to leave for its destination and all passengers had been asked to take their seats for take-off. An aircraft is usually pushed by a tractor, linked to the aircraft by a long tow-bar, before the engine is started. On Thursday, the pin holding the ends of the tow sheared off, resulting in the tractor hitting the nose-wheel gear.