Mangalore : Air India Express Crash - First Details

Helpline numbers for Air India flight IX-812

Air India has set up the following helpline numbers for queries on its IX-812 Flight that crashed Saturday morning killing at least 158 people.

"To assist us in continuing to help those most affected by this accident, we request that relatives and close friends only contact our following telephone numbers so that communication lines are open to those who need it the most," the airline said in a statement.

Bangalore Helpline: +91-080-66785172 and 080-22273310

Mumbai Helpline: +91-022-2279 6161

Dubai Airport: +00971-4-2165828/29

"Air India is extending all its support to the emergency services and other agencies that are associated with this emergency. A team has been rushed to Mangalore," the airline said.

"Air India shall provide all assistance and cooperation to the regulatory authorities that will investigate the accident."

Updates at 11.25am, IST

Air India spokesman, K Swaminathan, said the flight IX 812 overshot the runway while landing. He gave no further details. There are speculations that the crash would have happened due to brake failure, error of judgment on the part of the pilot or tyre burst. The rescue operations were hit for an hour as the drizzle turned into heavy downpour, with parts of the plane having rolled into ravines near the airport. The local airport has been temporarily closed.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the loss of lives in the air crash at the Mangalore airport on Saturday and ordered payment of compensation of Rs.200,000 to the families of the deceased and Rs.50,000 for the injured. State Chief Minister, B S Yeddyyurappa, has instructed the district deputy commissioner to ensure that the injured are treated free of cost.  Kerala Chief Minister, Achutanandan, has also rushed to the airport here.

The Prime Minister also postponed an event scheduled at his official residence Saturday evening to celebrate his government's one year in office during its second tenure. The ‘Abbakka Rani Utsav’ being held in Ullal near Mangalore has been cancelled.

Over 70 bodies have been recovered so far and there are six survivors, Sabrina (23), Farooq, Mohammed Kunhi, Joel Pratap D’Souza, Kishore and Pradip.

As the bodies of the deceased passengers are being shifted to the mortuary of Wenlock Hospital, the relatives have been asked to visit the said hospital.

Union minister for external affairs, S M Krishna, along with his colleague in the civil aviation department, Praful Patel, on their way to the local airport, along with Veerappa Moily. State chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar, home minister, Dr V S Acharya and MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel have already reached Bajpe airport.

The tentative figures have now put the number of deceased at 137 adult passengers, 23 children and six crew members. Many of the bodies are charred beyond recognition with some of the bodies found with . The fire has been extinguished now, and smoke is smouldering from the aircraft.

Almost all the passengers were from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts. So far, there is information about seven rescued, who have been put up in AJ, KSHEMA, SCS, Wenlock and KMC Hospitals. AJ Hospital sources said that they are treating Sabina (23), an intern with KMC, who was found hanging from a tree, and that she is out of danger. A man named Farooq, who jumped from the aircraft, has also survived. However, an eight year-old female child, was brought dead to the hospital.

An additional helpline, 0824 – 2010167 has been set up to help the people. It is learnt that the following were among those who travelled by the said aeroplane. Air India is yet to release its official list of passengers.

1. Flavy Lobo (Mother)
2. Vinisha Lobo (Daughter)
3. Vishal Lobo (Son)
4. Reshma Rai (Mother)
5. Naland Rai (Son)
6. Reshma's Infant daughter (Name unknown)
7. Ullas D'Silva

Update at 9.15am, IST

Mangalore: Helplines Established, Rescue Operations On

Naseem Zaidi, Director General of Civil Aviation, has rushed to Mangalore to guide the operations in Mangalore. Union minister, Veerappa Moily, is also on way to reach the local airport. Helplines No. 0824-2220422 and 011-25603101 have been established to provide information to the people.

The ill-fated aircraft, as per the version of a few people who saw the accident from a distance, appeared to be landing, when suddenly it overshot the runway and exploded. So far, 35 bodies have been recovered and the tentative figure of casualties stands at 150.

Air Marshal Chengappa, who was contacted by a few media houses, felt that landing of aircraft in the Table Top airport here, requires special skills as there is hardly any overshoot area. He assumed that Boeing 737 aircraft is equipped with enough gadgets for a safe landing and hence, human error could be the reason for the accident. Even if it was a case of poor visibility, the pilot would have taken the aircraft up again and hover around the airport till the visibility improved, he reasoned. But it is too early to come to a conclusion about the cause of the accident. No information is forthcoming from the local authorities. Over 25 ambulances and 20 fire tenders have been pressed into service to take up relief and rescue operations.

The blackbox of the aircraft is yet to be retrieved. The number of people admitted into hospitals is as yet uncertain, although it is learnt that four survivors are among them. The commandos have cordoned off the accident site, and people are not being allowed to approach the spot.

State Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, has sought the central help to handle the situation. 

Update at 9.00am IST (By Gabriel Vaz, Bangalore)

Expressing shock as the news of the Air India Express Boeing 737 crash near Mangalore Airport early this morning, the chief minister told DAIJIWORLD that he will be flying to Mangalore by emergency helicopter to oversee rescue operations and see whether the State Governemnt can offer any assistance.

``Fire Service force as well as senior police officers are already at the spot. Ambulances have also reached the place,” he said.

The chief minister pointed out that he was not sure of the exact details but had come to know that about 6 to 8 persons have been rescured so far and rushed to hospitals for treatment. ``I understand that their condition is critical,” he said.

The chief minister said he was yet to get detailed information on the exact number of people on board, though unconfirmed reports suggested that there were about 160 persons comprising passengers and crew, who were coming to Mangalore from Dubai.

"We don’t know how many of the people are from Karnataka or from neighbouring Kerala State,” he said assuring all help from the State Government.

The State Government was already in touch with the Centre and the Civil Aviation authorities.

There are reports stating that Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily have also already left for Mangalore.

Update at 8.00am

According to Home Minister V S Acharya about 150 people are feared dead in the Air India Express IX 892 from Dubai that crash landed in Bajpe Airport this morning. There were about 169 passengers on board. It is said that due to poor visibility the plane overshot the runway and caught fire and fell into the nearby gorge in a hilly forest area. Only six passengers are believed to be safe and are admitted to various hospitals in the city.

It is also learnt that the pilot gave no distress signal. Rescue operations are on in full swing at the site of the plane crash with  fire fighters, police  and civilians rendering a helping hand in shifting passengers to the hospital. Rescue operations are greatly hit due to the rains and the uneven terrain.  

Update at 7.30am:

Air India Express from Dubai which crash landed in Mangalore this morning near Bajpe airport in Mangalore was believed to be carrying 123 (To be confirmed) passengers. Six people are already admitted to different hospitals in the city. Huge casualties are expected as the plane crashed in a hilly terrain between Deccan Park and the railway crossing with a heavy roar and thick flames and hence fire service could not reach the crashed area immediately. Villagers were among the first to reach the spot. Thick smoke is coming out of the plane and officials and fire services people battling to douse the fire.  

First posting 6.56am IST

Mangalore, May 22: Air India Express, the national carrier coming from Dubai has crashed while landing at Mangalore Aiport around 6.00am Saturday, May 22, 2010.  The plane had taken off  Dubai Aiport around 1.10am Dubai time has been carrying around 150 plus passengers.

Air India Officials of Mangalore Airport are not immediately available for comments.

Daijiworld will keep you updated about the incident.