Passengers and crew members of a Delhi-Hyderabad SpiceJet flight had a narrow escape on Thursday, when the plane hit an electric pole at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

No one was injured, but the right wing of the plane was badly damaged. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an enquiry into the matter to find out whether it was caused by some technical snag or due to the pilot's negligence.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was taxiing out of Delhi airport, when the accident happened.

"The pilot in command switched on the engine… As per rules, the nose wheel of the plane had to be aligned to the central line, but after covering about 100 metre of the taxiway, the plane strayed and hit the pole," said a senior DGCA official.

"...it was a minor incident. The airline arranged another plane for passengers that departed from Delhi at 9.45pm," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

The DGCA, meanwhile, has conducted the alcohol test of the pilot.

"A team has been formed to investigate the matter and pilot has been grounded till the enquiry is complete," said a DGCA official.