At least 160 dead in Mangalore plane crash22 May 2010, 0832 hrs IST, AGENCIESAt least 160 people are feared dead after an Air India Express aircraft from Dubai, carrying 166 passengers, overshot the runaway while landing at the Mangalore airport on Saturday (May 22) morning.
The incident happened near a valley 10 kms from the airport, Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya said. The aircraft was on fire, he said. "At least 160 passengers have died in the crash," VS Acharya, Home Minister of the southern state of Karnataka, told reporters.
Ambulances and fire tenders rushed to the spot, where rescue operation is on.
The flight IX-892, operated by a Boeing 737-800, according to M.R. Vasudeva, Airport Manager, Bajpe, was carrying 166 passengers including 137 adults, 19 children and 4 infants. There were six crew members on board.
"The plane apparently overshot the runway and has crashed. We have news that the plane caught fire after crashing," Rohit Katiyar, a top airport security official said.
AI has opened helpline centre at Delhi Airport and the two numbers are 011-2565-6196 and 011-2560-3101. A Help Desk has been set up at the Mangalore airport. Contact numbers are: 0824 2220422/0824 2010167
Aviation sources said the aircraft overshot the runway, hit the fence and went beyond the boundary wall of the airport. Aviation sources termed it an 'accident' instead of 'incident', they said. In aviation parlance an accident denotes causalities.
Meanwhile, an Air India statement said the accident occurred after the aircraft landed at Mangalore airport and overshot the runway.
"Air India is currently confirming the identities of the casualties. Air India is deploying all its resources for assisting passengers and their families," it said.
Only five to six survivors
There are five to six survivors of the crash in which most are feared dead, say airport officials. Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya too added that there may be only five to six survivors in the Air India Express plane from Dubai that crashed at Mangalore with 166 persons on board.
The names of three of the six survivors who escaped with minor injuries are Joel Pratap D'Souza (a "young man around 25-30 years old" ), Umar Farooq (26) and Sabrina, a medical student. They have been taken to a private hospital for treatment, but are out of danger.
Mr. D'Souza came to the airport from the crash site in a vehicle and said he was a survivor of the crash. He was immediately moved to the hospital
Meanwhile, dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight to mark completion of one year of UPA-2 in government cancelled in view of the Air India flight crash in Mangalore, say PMO sources.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic air accident in Mangalore. In a message, she wished speedy recovery to those injured.
A function for the release of 'Report to the People 2010', which was to be preceded by the dinner, has also been cancelled, according to UPA sources.
-REPORT BY TIMES NOW.