Mangalore: Post Tragedy, Airport Successfully Overcomes ‘Unsafe’ Bogey

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 21: The worst ever air crash in the history of the local airport had occurred on May 22, 2010. 158 persons had lost their lives while eight had survived miraculously, after an Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the runway and crashed into the ravine at Kenjar, apparently due to the mistakes committed by the pilot.

After the accident, rumours were making the rounds about this airport being ‘unsafe’ for air passengers. Perhaps, this bogey had affected the number of passengers landing at the airport initially. The airport registered a shortage of 1,768 passengers in July 2010, 29,761 in August, and 2,912 passengers during September, as compared to previous year. Although the initial figures showed a marked shift of the incoming passengers to nearby airports, the things have since improved. This is evidenced by the fact that 8,27,273 passengers used this airport for outward journey and to land here during the year 2010-11, as compared to 7,86,284 during the previous year.

In tune with the recommendations of the court of inquiry headed by air marshal (retd) B N Gokhale, steps are being undertaken to build a new ATC tower, improve runway markings, and to elevate the safety area at the end of the runway. In addition, the airport is set to get extended runway as per norms stipulated for the international flights to operate, by the end of this year.

It may be recalled that the new terminal building of the airport had been inaugurated on May 15 last year. M R Vasudeva, director of the airport, has asserted that the airport here was in no way responsible for the said crash.

The airport’s income also has jumped to Rs 32.88 crore during 2010-11 from Rs 27.65 crore during 2009-10. A year after the tragedy, the airport appears to have recovered from the initial shock, and is all set to zoom ahead, putting behind the bitter memories of the past.