Jayalalithaa has providential escape

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had a providential escape when her special aircraft narrowly escaped a runway collision with an Indian Airlines Flight, which had landed from Singapore at the airport here at about 9.30am on Monday.

Airport sources said the special aircraft, with officials and state Director General of Police A X Alexander on board, was about to take off when the other aircraft, which was moving on the same runway, came to a sudden halt due to a technical snag.

The alert pilot of the special aircraft, noticing this, brought the plane to an immediate halt and averted a major mishap.

Ms Jayalalitha was on her way to Madurai to inspect flood-hit areas.

The other aircraft, with 163 passengers on board, was towed to an isolated spot and the passengers disembarked.

The Airports Authority of India has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Along with Ms Jayalalitha, three Secretaries, two personal security officers to Chief Minister and her personal aide Ms Sudha were on board.