New Delhi: The Taliban launched a rocket attack on Afghanistan’s capital Hamid Karzai International Airport and during the attack the narrow escape of the 180 passengers and crew on the SpiceJet aircraft that ran from Kabul today.
At the time of the rocket attack, SpiceJet SG 22 was preparing to take-off Kabul-Delhi flight to the airport.
A SpiceJet spokesman said, “SpiceJet Flight SG 22 Operation Kabul-Delhi was almost complete when the incident took place. The passengers and crew were safely removed and taken to the terminal building and no damage occurred to the aircraft.
Many rockets were reportedly shot to the airport in the Afghan capital. A rocket hit a house near the airport; five people were injured in the rocket attack.
The Taliban has said on Twitter that U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who was reaching Kabul, was the target of the attack.
The SpiceJet flight was scheduled to stop at 11.20, but as the Kabul airport was attacked, the passengers were made to board the aircraft and they were taken to the terminal building. SpiceJet is function five flights every week to Kabul, Afghanistan.
Air India has direct flights to Kabul for four times in a week, but today a flight was not scheduled, an airline source said.
The rocket attack comes after Mr. Mattis arrived in the Afghan capital, the Donald Trump cabinet first member to visit the war-torn country, since his assurance to stay the course in the US longest war.
