A Jet Airways flight with 161 people on board veered off the runway at Dabolim airport in Goa while aligning for take off to Mumbai early today, with 15 passengers suffering "minor" injuries during evacuation.
The incident took place at around 5 AM. Flight 9W 2374 which had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, was about to take off when it skidded off the runway.
When the evacuation was on, the aircraft tilted forward, an eyewitness said, triggering panic among passengers.
Navy sources said 15 people suffered "minor injuries and fractures" in the process.
The flight, while taking off from the INS HANSA runway 26 aborted take off and spun around 360 degrees. A total of 154 passengers have been evacuated safely. Fifteen of the passengers suffered minor injuries, Navy sources told HuffPost India.
The runway of the naval air station is now operational and flights will be accepted throughout the day to cater for lost time, sources said.
"Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in a statement.
Besides 154 passengers, there were 7 crew members on board.
"When people were getting down the plane, it suddenly tilted forward triggering panic and chaos," a passenger told reporters at Chicalim cottage hospital in Vasco.