It was immediately extinguished. All 213 passengers plus crew were evacuated. They are all safe,' Bhargava told IANS.

'The passengers will be sent to Riyadh later today,' he said, adding: 'The cause of fire is being ascertained.'

According to the ground staff at the airport, the fire was noticed on the engine fitted below the left wing of the aircraft of 1993 vintage. It was immediately brought to a halt and emergency services alerted.

The passengers were evacuated by making them slide through the exit doors and were later taken to the terminal building as the fire was being brought under control by the fire brigade services at the airport.