Passengers on board a Bahrain-bound Gulf Air flight from Mumbai had a providential escape last night after one of the aircraft's engines caught fire moments before take-off.

An air traffic control official (ATC) at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport said the fire was noticed 'just seconds' before Flight GD 065 was to go on 'full power' after being lined-up for take off.

'The aircraft had taxied for a few minutes and was awaiting ATC clearance to take off when the fire was noticed,' the official, who did not wish to be named, told the GDN from Mumbai.

'Emergency services were alerted and the fire was put out immediately. The take-off was aborted and the plane came back for a complete check.'

He said about half a dozen incoming and outgoing flights were affected.

A Gulf Air official in Mumbai said there was a 'delay in departure' but would not elaborate. 'We are trying to ensure that all the 124 passengers are taken care of.'

A Bahrain International Airport official confirmed there had 'been a problem' with a Gulf Air flight in Mumbai. 'It is not arriving anytime soon and we do not know when it will.'

The flight was scheduled to land in Bahrain at 6.50 pm.

Fred Governo, a Bahrain-based British businessman, who was on board, said there was complete chaos at the airport when the take-off was aborted. 'The passengers also panicked for a while, but were later informed there had been a problem with the take-off.'-TradeArabia News Service