Jetlite plane stranded on runway for 40 minutes

GUWAHATI: Planes could not land for nearly an hour as a Jetlite aircraft got stranded on the runway following a technical failure at the Lokopriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here today.

The plane, which had arrived from Kolkata, was stranded on the runway for nearly 40 minutes due to hydraulic failure after over 100 passengers safely disembarked, airport officials said.

Aircraft could not land for nearly an hour from 7 AM as a result and the runway was cleared only after the defect was rectified, they said.

The plane later took off for NSCB International Airport, Kolkata and services finally resumed after about an hour delay, they said.

The airport has been under tight security scanner in view of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to the state to take stock of the boat tragedy in Dhubri.

Gandhi was slated to arrive here this afternoon from Delhi and leave for Dhubri by a helicopter.