Dozens of Jet Airways passengers experienced some frightening moments today when a plane’s landing gear appeared to collapse as it touched down at an airport in India. The plane, carrying 59 passengers and eight crew members, tilted to one side and its left engine scraped along the runway in Khajuraho. The crew ordered an evacuation after the Boeing 737-800 came to a stop, and passengers slid down the plane’s inflatable slides to safety. Photos provided by a journalist show the plane tilting to one side and its left engine touching the runway . In statements posted on Twitter, Jet Airways described it as ‘a technical problem with the landing gear’ and said reports of a fire are untrue. Passengers spotted smoke outside the plane when the left wing landing gear collapsed, Indian media reported. The incident occurred as flight 9W2423 arrived at the airport in Khajuraho, about 375 miles south-east of Delhi in the state of Madhya Pradesh, from Varanasi, a 45-minute journey. After a brief stop in Varanasi the plane was scheduled to continue to Delhi. Photos provided to MailOnline Travel by a Live India journalist show the plane tilting to the left, with its left engine touching the runway and its emergency slides deployed. Passengers were forced to exit the Boeing 737-800 via its inflatable evacuation slides . Jet Airways said in a statement: ‘Safety chutes were deployed and all 59 passengers and eight crew on board the aircraft disembarked safely and were transferred to the terminal. ‘Jet Airways is making arrangements to transfer outbound guests to Varanasi and Delhi. ‘An additional flight is also being operated on the Delhi-Varanasi sector to assist in accommodating the outbound guests.’ The Mumbai-based airline said India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is responsible for investigating aviation accidents and incidents, has been informed. It added: ‘The safety of passengers is the airline’s number one priority and Jet Airways will be working closely with the authorities during the investigation into the cause of this incident.’ A government official told the Indian Express that no one was injured, but the runway is expected to be closed for 48 hours.
Incident occurred as the Boeing 737-800 landed at Khajuraho airport .
Plane tilted to one side and left engine scraped along runway .
Crew ordered an evacuation and passengers slid down emergency slides .
Jet Airways said no one was injured and reports of a fire were false .