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Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mangaluru survivors recount 2010 plane crash tragedy amid recent Air India mishap
As India grapples with renewed concerns over air safety following a recent Air India incident, memories of one of the country's worst aviation tragedies have resurfaced in Karnataka's Mangaluru. It's been 15 years since the fatal crash of Air India Express flight IX 812 — a day seared into the minds of survivors and the families of 158 people who lost their lives. Also Read - 'They solve Bengaluru's traffic crisis': Chorus grows online as Karnataka bans bike taxis For K Pradeep, one of the eight survivors of the 2010 crash, the passage of time has not dulled the memory. Now working as a civil contractor in Mangaluru, he returns every year on May 22 to the crash memorial at Kulur. There, in quiet remembrance, he lays flowers, prays, and reflects on what he calls his miraculous escape. 'I believe it was the blessings from my parents and their good deeds that protected me,' Pradeep told PTI. He still recalls the horror when the aircraft overran the runway and plunged into a deep gorge, bursting into flames. Another survivor, Usman Farooq, who today serves with an ambulance service, echoes a similar sentiment. He believes divine intervention saved him. Farooq, who had been seated near the aircraft's wing, said that part of the fuselage broke apart at just the right moment — creating an opening through which he managed to escape. Also Read - Bengaluru climbs to 14th spot in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings 2025 'I see my work in emergency services as a way to repay life's gift. I was saved for a reason,' he said. On May 22, 2010, Air India Express flight IX 812, a Boeing 737 operating on the Dubai–Mangaluru route, crash-landed at Mangaluru International Airport. The aircraft touched down far beyond the intended point — nearly 5,200 feet down an 8,000-foot runway — leaving little room for braking. As it hurtled past the runway's edge, the aircraft fell into a steep gorge and broke apart. Of the 166 people on board, 158 died. It remains one of India's most devastating aviation disasters. A detailed inquiry by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) concluded that the primary cause was human error. The captain, investigators found, had ignored repeated alerts from both the co-pilot and the aircraft's ground proximity warning system, continuing with an unstable approach. It was also revealed that the captain had been asleep for a significant part of the flight and was likely suffering from 'sleep inertia' — a condition that impairs decision-making after abruptly waking up. The Court of Inquiry, headed by Air Marshal B.N. Gokhale, affirmed these findings and added that infrastructure issues at the airport contributed to the tragedy. One key concern was that the localiser antenna structure — which the plane crashed into — was not built to break upon impact, violating international aviation safety norms.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mangaluru plane crash survivors recall horror, gratitude 15 years on
Mangaluru , Fifteen years after the tragic crash of Air India Express flight IX 812 in Mangaluru airport, which killed 158 people, a survivor of the accident, K Pradeep, still recalls the day with solemn reflection and quiet gratitude. That aircraft overran the runway on May 22, 2010 and crashed. Pradeep, now a civil contractor in the city, visits the crash memorial at Kulur every May 22. He lays flowers at the plaque, stands in silence for the lives lost, and offers prayers. "It was the charity work done by my parents and their blessings that saved me,' he told PTI, recalling the horrific moment when the Boeing 737 aircraft failed to stop and plunged into a gorge. After paying tribute, he also visits temples to thank the divine for what he calls a miraculous escape. Another survivor, Usman Farooq, who now works with an ambulance service, also believes his survival was due to divine intervention. He remembers how the portion of the aircraft near the wing, where he was seated, broke apart just in time to allow his escape. Farooq said he owes his life to the Almighty and sees his work in emergency services as a way of giving back. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation , which investigated the crash, attributed the cause primarily to human error. The inquiry found that the aircraft touched down approximately 5,200 feet down an 8,000-foot-long runway, leaving insufficient distance to bring the aircraft to a halt. Despite repeated warnings from the co-pilot and alerts from the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System , the captain continued with an unstabilised approach. Investigators also revealed that the commander of the aircraft had been asleep during a portion of the flight and was likely experiencing 'sleep inertia,' a state of cognitive impairment, at the time of landing. The Court of Inquiry, led by Air Marshal B N Gokhale largely supported the DGCA's conclusions, highlighting pilot error as the primary cause. However, it also pointed to systemic failures. The report noted that the rigid structure housing the localiser antenna at the airport was not frangible, contrary to international civil aviation guidelines. This contributed to the aircraft breaking apart upon overshooting the runway. The inquiry also mentioned that audits conducted by the DGCA in previous years, including one in 2007 and another shortly before the crash in 2010, had flagged several deficiencies in Air India Express's training and safety oversight mechanisms. Unfortunately, corrective measures were not implemented in time. Emergency response efforts at the crash site were hindered by inadequate access routes and limited firefighting resources. Survivors and emergency responders later noted that these deficiencies delayed rescue operations and may have cost lives. In the aftermath of the crash, the DGCA initiated safety audits of other critical airports across the country. The regulatory body also formed the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council to improve oversight. Reforms were proposed to enhance runway safety, especially at tabletop airports like Mangaluru, and to reinforce crew training, especially on go-around procedures. Some of these measures have been implemented, but infrastructural gaps at many airports remain a concern.
