Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, May 22: The disaster that can never be forgotten in the history of civil aviation in the country which occurred on May 22, 2010 at the international airport in the city completed 12 years. Mourning the same, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel along with the district administration played floral tributes at the Memorial Park in Kodikal near Thannirubhavi on Sunday, May 22.

It may be recalled that, in the mishap in which the Air India aircraft overshot the runway, fell into a deep gorge by the side of the airport and 158 people including the pilot and the crew of the aircraft had lost their lives. The passengers included 135 adults, 19 children, four babies and six aircraft crew. Eight people had survived miraculously.

The flight that had arrived from Dubai had landed with all the safety precautions. However, the pilot had overshot the runway due to an error of judgement and also did not listen to the advice given by the co-pilot not to land, which resulted in the wings of the aircraft crashing against the wind pole taking the flight into the deep gorge. In the subsequent inquiry that was held, it was confirmed that it was indeed an error by the pilot.

A temporary memorial was built on the site of the crash with the names of all those perished written on stone. However, as the crash site belonged to a private individual, there was controversy and the temporary memorial was demolished by miscreants.

Finally, a memorial park for the victims of this tragedy was built on 90 cents of land on the road that leads to Tannirubhavi near Kulur four years ago. On May 22nd every year, tributes are offered to the people who lost their lives.