Mangaluru: AI Express plane crash memories continue to haunt citizens, passengers' families


Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 22: Exactly nine years back on this day, on May 22, 2010, the city witnessed an Air India Express flight 812 from Dubai to the city crashing when landing at the airport here. The said Boeing 737-800 passenger jet had overshot the runway and broken into pieces, killing 158 passengers and crew members including women and children coming home to spend holidays in the bargain. Most of the bodies were charred and identities were established in many cases on the basis of clothes, etc. However, a few bodies could not be identified and hence funeral was performed for them together.

Eight passengers, Pradeep (28) from Tannirbavi, Muhammed Usman (49) from Hampankatta here, Jewel D'Souza (24) from Vamanjoor, Mahin Kutty (49) from Kannur Tambil, Krishnan (37) from Uduma Kulikunnu in Kasargod, Ummer Farooq (26) from Ullal, Abdulla (37), a resident of Samethadka, Puttur, and Sabreena (23) from Bangladesh, who was a student of KMC here, had miraculously escaped from the jaws of death. Out of them, Sabreena's nature of injuries were very serious while others had escaped with minor injuries.

There had also been a few instances of thieves making hay and stealing gold, valuables etc by taking advantage of the volatile situation. A few of them were later nabbed.

Later, investigation had established that the catastrophe occurred because of the neglect shown by the captain of the flight to suggestions made by the co-pilot.

It is learnt that case filed by a number of passengers families demanding increased compensation is still before the Supreme Court. Those who survived were disbursed with the compensation amount within a couple of years. Several passengers accepted the compensation offered by the authorities.

A park has come up in memory of the deceased passengers of the flight, on Panambur - Tannirbavi road by the efforts of the district administration, Airports Authority of India and New Mangalore Port Trust. Tributes were paid to the victims of the air crash at the memorial and park on Wednesday, May 22.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, Dr R Selvamani, CEO, zilla panchayat, Hezel Conseco, PA to airport director, Dr Murali Manohar, president, IMA, Mangaluru Chapter, officials of Air India and others paid floral tribute to the departed souls.

Expressing his condolences, Sasikanth Senthil said, “It was a massive catastrophe in the form of plane crash. The accident claimed many lives who were the bread earners of the family. We cannot fill the void left in the families through money or words of condolence. But it is the administration’s duty to look at their condition and give compensation. Hope the court procedures will end soon and the families of the deceased will receive the right compensation. We always stand with the victims and try our best to condole them in the forms of legal affairs.

“Today I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. I pray for the departed souls,” he said.

Even though many prefer to forget this accident, the families of the deceased passengers and the survivors find it impossible to do so. Many recollect that view of the plane that had almost landed, having moved ahead, hitting two polls of the air traffic control and getting shredded into pieces and turning into a fireball after cutting power cables and diving down 150 metres at Kenjar next to the airport.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Joseph, Qatar

    Wed, May 22 2019

    It happens only in our country for all the wrong reasons where people treat others like cattle class. It's extremely unfortunate that this unending saga continues as if the deceased victims were convicts or had a criminal record. In other developed countries the airlines and every allied authority/authorities go out of their way and are very prompt in disbursing all the allocated aids and life long incentives exclusively to the affected families within a record time. Furthermore, a close knit family type of a bond is established between the airlines and the various authorities concerned to help people recuperate from the loss of their loved ones and shower them with concern and extend every help by even going out of their way. Contrast that to our country where it's NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE to see such care and concern. I can't believe that it's taking 9 bloody precious long years just to culminate the disbursal aid of compensation ...that to bargaining with the rightful aid that should be dispensed as per Warsaw convention (finally arriving to peanuts - that's the value of life in our country) to the aggrieved families. On top of it, a picture of the case languishing in the Courts for years together and accumulating dust just gives a grim sordid pathetic picture of the situation. Air India has stinking rich money at it's disposal but making a huge hue and cry that they are become paupers sitting at the street corner begging for aid. Their attitude says it all. In the aftermath of the incident, every single department has been throwing the ball from one corner to the other even to wait for obtaining the permission and the funds for widening of the airport runway since donkeys years. I wonder when there will be a full stop to this entire matter.

    I remember my extremely happy ex-colleague every single day who worked with us in the same Company and who was on that dreaded flight to Mangalore for his marriage. He was the sole bread earner of his family with his 88 year old mother crying all the time. Alas he is no more .. I have only his vivid memories.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Y.S.KARKERA, UDUPI MUMBAI

    Wed, May 22 2019

    I lost my dear friend Naveen kumar poojari on this flight.
    miss you dear friend.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abu Mohammed, KSA / Mangaluru

    Wed, May 22 2019

    This tragedy taught us very big lesson specially for communal sensitive Mangaloreans , when those 150+ bodies were burnt to death, no one could identify which one is of Hindu, Muslim or Christian. they were all same. but we human being are of very short memory and politicians always takes the advantage of that , within a year there was a communal riot which killed 2 Muslims and a Hindu.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, May 22 2019

    I still remember God before Touch Down ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dsouza, Udupi

    Wed, May 22 2019

    Those who survived without any cast , religion, Country this is love of god . We hope and pray that there will no more Communial disputes among brotherin in Mangalore . United we stand and grow .

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash D' Cunha, Bajpe/Ashoknagar/Abudhabi

    Wed, May 22 2019

    May their souls rest in peace.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwin (Drums), BAJPE

    Wed, May 22 2019

    Kindest thought and prayers for those who lost and have lost loved ones on this flight.
    May they rest in peace.

    Alwie (Drums's)
    Bajpe

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Augustine Daniel DSouza, Udupi Mumbai STATE OF KUWAIT.

    Wed, May 22 2019

    May the departed souls Rest in Peace.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • steevan, Dubai/Mlr

    Wed, May 22 2019

    Let the departed soul rest in peace.

    I had traveled by the same flight just One day before from Dubai.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • chethana, mangalore

    Wed, May 22 2019

    one of the worst air tragedies in the history of aviation due to pure human error.
    May the departed souls rest in peace.
    I had travelled by the same flight just a week before to Dubai. Have seen all the crew who perished in the crash. Quite moving.
    God Bless everyone.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • francis lobo, Mangalore

    Wed, May 22 2019

    The incident happened 8 years back and the park has been an reminder of the people who lost their lives and the families who suffered the loss. The incident did not have any caste, religion ,region, country or other bifurcation .All were one in this .Rest In Peace.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse


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