Amritsar:
A rat found in an Air India flight preparing for take off to Toronto on Saturday created panic among authorities, who arranged for an alternative flight for passengers.
The Air India flight AI-187, which had arrived at the Rajasansi International Airport from Delhi, was scheduled to go to Toronto via London, airport officials said, adding, it was stopped just before take off and all the 147 passengers on board were asked to disembark.
However, all efforts to track down the rodent failed and an alternative plane was arranged for the passengers for their onward journey.
Engineers and technical staff of Air India apprehended that the rat could cause severe damage to the engine which may even lead to a crash and it was decided to suspend the flight, they said.
They said the plane was parked at the airport from where the rat had probably entered the plane. They, however, did not rule out the possibility of the rat sneaking into the plane at Delhi.
The airport here has no provision for fumigation to drive out insects and rats from plane.