Aircraft hit by water tanker at Kolkata, damaged (Lead)

Kolkata : A Qatar Airways aircraft preparing for take-off from Kolkata suffered damage on Thursday after it was hit by a water tanker "due to mishandling", an airport official said.

The accident took place around 2.30 a.m. at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport when Qatar Airways aircraft QR 540 was hit by an Air India water cart.

"The tanker was supplying water and due to mishandling, it hit the aircraft which was on the tarmac," an official said.

He said the aircraft suffered damage and its 101 passengers and 12 crew members including two pilots were safely evacuated. The aircraft has been grounded and a probe has been initiated by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Passengers were shifted to a hotel and will be accommodated in the next flight scheduled for Thursday night.