A WDB CREW HAD A BLOWN PNEUMATIC DUCT RESULTING IN AN ABORTED TKOF.

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AS PWR WAS APPLIED FOR TKOF; HEARD LOUD THUMPS SIMILAR TO COMPRESSOR STALL. I ABORTED; PROCEEDED TO PARALLEL TAXIWAY; PARKED; PERFORMED ABNORMAL PROC FOR BLOWN CTR DUCT WHICH WAS NOW ANNUNCIATED ON OVERHEAD PANEL. FLT ATTENDANTS WERE FRIGHTENED AND REACTED TO SMOKE AS IF IT WAS FIRE. WE HAD DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AS THEY THOUGHT WE WERE ON FIRE AND PROCEEDED TO EXTINGUISH A NON EXISTENT FIRE IN AFT SECTION OF OUR WDB. I TOLD FO TO PERFORM ANY OTHER ABNORMALS HE DEEMED NECESSARY INCLUDING SHUTTING ENGS DOWN AS I LEFT COCKPIT TO SEE FOR MYSELF. (ENGS WERE SHUT DOWN). PAXS WERE VERY UNEASY AND OUT OF THEIR SEATS. I TOOK CTL AND WAS ABLE TO GET THEM CALMED DOWN AS I HAD DETERMINED NO FIRE EXISTED. IT NOW BECAME VERY HOT AND I INSTRUCTED FLT ATTENDANTS TO OPEN CABIN DOORS TO PROVIDE AIR AND RELIEVE CLAUSTROPHOBIA. INSTRUCTED FLT ATTENDANTS TO STAY NEAR DOORS SO THEY COULD CLOSE THEM IF WE HAD TO EVAC IN THE FUTURE. (I FELT THERE WAS NO DANGER OF THIS NOW). A TUG WAS SENT TO PULL US BACK TO TERMINAL UNEVENTFULLY. FROM 'THUMP' TO JETWAY: 48 MINS. FLT ATTENDANTS NEED TO BE TAUGHT THAT WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THIS IS NOT ALWAYS FIRE -- HARDLY EVER AS A MATTER OF FACT. KNOWING THIS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR BETTER COM AND WOULD HAVE PUT PAXS AND COCKPIT CREW IN A BETTER POS TO DEAL WITH SITUATION.