Snag forces flight to abort take-off

All passengers had boarded the flight, scheduled to leave at 3.30 pm, and the aircraft was to be taxied when the pilot noticed some hydraulic problem in the take-off/landing gear, airport sources said.

The pilot immediately aborted the take-off and informed the air-traffic control room. All the passengers were disembarked and taken back to the terminal.

The aircraft was expected to leave for Colombo after the problem was sorted out, the sources added.