Fuel tanker catches fire at old apron area of airport

Kolkata: A major tragedy has been averted at Kolkata airport on Wednesday morning when a fuel tanker went up in flames at the old apron where planes are re-fuelled.

No casualty or injuries have been reported in the incident and there is no report of any damage to any aircraft at the apron too. The flight operations at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport, however, remained unaffected, a senior fire official said.

It was learnt that a vehicle carrying fuel caught fire accidentally inside the airport's old apron area at around 4 am on Wednesday. The Bolero tanker that was carrying aviation fuel for aircraft caught fire when it was parked near the old apron area.

One fire tender was rushed to the spot immediately after the incident. AAI is

trying to ascertain the cause of the fire. According to

sources, the tanker is usually used for ground handling works. A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official added.

According to NSCBI Airport authorities, a fire broke out at the vehicle used for storing excess kerosene of an

airline company at around 4 am at the NSCBI Airport on Wednesday. The fire was doused quickly by the fire staff of AAI, Kolkata. The said pick-up vehicle was standing at the line maintenance area of old apron area.

The airport authorities suspect that the reason for the fire seems to be a short circuit in the engine and this had led to the fire at the bonnet of the vehicle. The fire was

completely brought under control and got extinguished well within the framed time with the help of AAI fire tender service Kolkata.