Dubai bound Emirates flight sees a narrow escape

A possible tragedy was averted on Wednesday at the Mumbai airport after a Dubai-bound Emirates flight with 202 passengers and crew onboard had to land under emergency conditions following fuel leakage from one of the engines.

The Airbus A330 aircraft was carrying 187 passengers, including an infant, and 15 crew members, the Dubai-based airline said.

"The Mumbai-Dubai Emirates flight EK507 returned to the Mumbai airport shortly after take-off due to a technical issue," an airline spokesperson said.

Though the airline did not disclose the nature of the snag, sources said fuel was leaking from one of the engines and the airline had to jettison fuel mid-air to ensure safe-landing.

According to a Mumbai International Airport spokesperson, "following a crisis call from the Emirates flight, the air traffic controller declared a full landing emergency at the airport at 1558 hrs, following which the aircraft returned to the airport at 1609 hrs."

Fire tenders were rushed to the tarmac but the fuel-leak did not cause any fire.