Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jul 1: There is information that disaster was lurking just 20 feet away from where the Air India flight from Dubai came to a halt finally after it skidded from the runway after landing at the international airport here on Sunday June 30 evening. If the aircraft had moved a little further, it would have jumped into a ditch. The accident happened after the aircraft, after landing, was being ferried towards the terminal.
The aircraft, after skidding, had veered away from the runway and its wheels had got stuck in soft mud. Luckily, 189 persons including six crew members, two children and 181 other passengers escaped death by a whisker. The aircraft, which was reportedly moving at a higher speed, went straight on to muddy area instead of taking a right turn. The pilot immediately applied the brakes and stopped the aircraft just short of a ditch, it is said.
The aircraft had made a bid to land at the airport at 5.32 pm but it could not. In its second attempt, it touched down at 5.42 pm. It is said that Air Traffic Control observed that the aircraft was moving at high speed when it went out of the runway.
Pilots
A passenger from Bandadka in Kasargod, identified as Ashwini, who came by the said flight with her two children, said that when the aircraft touched down and moved ahead, a loud noise was heard and the aircraft shook violently before coming to a halt. It reminded the passengers and the staff at the airport about the May 22, 2010 Air India Express flight from Dubai that had crashed at Kenjar near the airport when landing. 158 lives had been lost in that tragedy. In another accident which happened on August 19, 1981, an aircraft operated by Indian Airlines had crash-landed, and the aircraft had got stuck between three laterite stones. It was initially slipping further. However, the passengers including M Veerappa Moily who was among the passengers, had a providential escape.
Minister Khader has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the union civil aviation ministry to view the above incident in all seriousness and hold detailed investigation into it. He also has urged the concerned to doubly check whether there is any deficiency in the facilities at the airport.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has since permitted to resume operation of all the flights in the airport after conducting verification of the runway. Initially all operations had been suspended after the above incident.
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