Praful Patel visits Mangalore plane accident site DGCA initiates inquiry

During his visit at the accident site at Mangalore, he expressed his condolence to the families of the deceased passengers and crew members.

An Air India Express aircraft Boeing 737-800 operating as Flight IX-812 from Dubai to Mangalore was involved in an accident early this morning. The aircraft was following ILS approach for landing on runway 24 and the Pilot reported to ATC that it is established on ILS approach at about 10 miles from touchdown. Landing clearance was given at about 4 miles from touchdown. The aircraft touched down the runway 24 and overshot the runway. Runway 24 at Mangalore airport is 2450 meters (approx 8000 ft) and safety area of 90 meters. This runway was commissioned in 2006 and has remained operational since then. ILS was operating normal. The aircraft was acquired in the last quarter of 2007 and had no history of defects and malfunction. The weather conditions were normal with visibility of 6 Kms, calm wind and no rain at the time of incident.

The aircraft was under the Command of Capt. Z. Glusica, who had 10,200 hours of flying experience and had last flown from Mangalore in November, 2009. Capt. H.S. Ahluwalia was the co-pilot, who was based at Mangalore and had 3,650 hours of flying experience, of which 3,350 hours was on Boeing 737 aircraft. The aircraft had 160 passengers and 6 crew members on board. Out of these, there are 8 survivors( 4 with minor injuries, 3 with major injuries and 1 unhurt). As at 1430 hrs, 128 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. The families of the deceased would be paid compensation as per the International Law and the injured as per the extent of injury.

Air India has opened up Control Centres at five stations, viz. Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Mangalore and Dubai. These Control Cells will handle the passengers relatives' queries and arrange for their travel to Mangalore. Air India has also operated a flight from Mumbai to Mangalore carrying the relatives of the deceased/survivors. A team of dedicated officers has also been dispatched to Mangalore to take care of the injured passengers in the hospitals and render all possible assistance to the relatives of the deceased passengers. Air India will also operate a special flight today from Dubai to Mangalore for the relatives of the deceased passengers/survivors

Rescue operations were launched by the Airport Authority, Air India and the local administration with the help of local population. The Minister of Civil Aviation, CMD Air India, DGCA and other senior officials have rushed to the spot to oversee the relief and rescue operation. DGCA has already initiated an inquiry. Air India has constituted a team, headed by its ED, Operations to take all necessary steps to establish circumstances including collection of data pertaining to the accident and the team would assist DGCA in its inquiry into the accident.

Airport Authority and Air India have established Control Room/Helpline at Chennai (Tel 044-22561365 & 22560894), Mangalore (Tel.No.0824-2220422, 2451046/47/48, 24560641, 24560673, 2220450/51 & 2010167), Mumbai (Tel.No.022-27880777); Delhi (Tel.No.011-25656196 & 25603101 and Dubai 00971-4-2165828).