CHENNAI: A Hyderabad-bound SpiceJet flight was sent back to the bay moments before takeoff after it developed a sudden engine malfunction on Tuesday at Chennai airport. Following the snag, the passengers were transferred to a different aircraft.

The flight was scheduled to depart at 6 am with 74 flyers and five crew members aboard. The pilot detected the snag while taxiing on the runway and alerted the air traffic control (ATC). A tow vehicle pulled the flight back to the bay after the pilot halted the operation.

As the issue could not be fixed, the passengers who were made to wait in the airport lounge were arranged an alternate flight. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is investigating the malfunction.