sherdil76
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The Air India Express flight careered out of control and skidded off the runway moments after it landed at the city of Mangalore, in southern India, early Saturday. Eyewitnesses and survivors said the Boeing 737-800, which was arriving from Dubai, had landed initially landed smoothly but it then plunged down a dense jungle ravine into a pond.
Video: Indian plane crash survivors talk - Telegraph
The fuselage broke in two and, despite a fire and explosion, survivors scrambled to safety. Only eight of the 166 passengers and crew lived. The victims included 19 children.
One survivor, Joel Pratap D'Souza, 24, escaped unhurt after jumping through a gap in the wreckage. "I was sitting on seat number 23 and was eagerly looking forward to landing. The flight touched the ground, followed by a big bang, the plane became unbalanced and went out of the runaway," he said.
"The pilot lost control of the plane, he was trying to bring the plane to a halt, it did not happen and it halted in the forest. Within seconds the cabin filled with smoke and the plane broke apart. We saw plumes of fire coming from the plane and loud explosion," he said.
Fellow survivor Umar Farooq, described hearing a "thud" immediately after landing. " The plane lost the control and moved towards the jungle. Immediately, there was a blast, we tried to jump but couldn't because of the smoke. One side of the plane caught fire and there was a crack in the plane. I along with six other people escaped from the plane, my hand and face was burnt while fleeing from the gap.
"We walked around half a kilometre from the accident site and were rescued by locals, who took us to the hospital in an auto rickshaw. It has been a hair rising experience and I am fortunate to be still alive."
Another survivor, Pradeep Kotian, told a local television station that he thought he was going to die. "We had no hope to survive, but we survived. The plane broke into two and we jumped off the plane. As soon as the plane landed, within seconds this happened," he said.
Officials said the plane hit a radar antenna after landing, causing the plane to veer from the runway. One of the plane's wings was discovered at the end of the runway, suggesting it had broken off after hitting the radar pole.
Hiba Azeena, aged seven, who was travelling with her mother and two sisters, was initially among the passengers who survived the crash either by jumping to safety or being thrown from the plane. However, Hiba, who was seen in television pictures being taken to hospital on a stretcher, the "miracle" was short lived.
According to rescue workers, the child survived not only the crash but also an explosion which threw her through a gap in the wreckage into the surrounding jungle where she was found an hour later with broken ribs and head injuries.
She was given oxygen and medicine in an ambulance as she was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, she arrived in a critical condition and later died from her multiple injuries.
The eight survivors included one man who emerged completely unscathed from the wreckage. The tragedy happened on an Air India Express budget flight carrying low-paid Indian migrant workers returning from Dubai to their homes in Kerala.
According to India's aviation minister, Praful Patel, most of the bodies were "burnt beyond recognition."
As investigators began their inquiry to establish the cause of India's most devastating air crash since 1996, safety activists and commentators claimed the pilot and the runway were to blame for the tragedy.
Initial reports said the pilot was a British national of Serbian origin, but Air India officials later told the British High Commission that Zlatko Glusica, 53, a married father of two who died in the crash, was in fact Serbian. Officials said Mr Glusica had not sent any distress signal as the plane landed.
Nearby residents rushed to the crash site, describing "shocking" scenes as they pulled charred bodies from the wreckage.
The crash followed heavy rains in recent days that hampered the rescue effort.
It is believed cloudy conditions and reduced visibility may have contributed to the incident.
The airport is located on a plateau surrounded by hills, making it difficult for the firefighters to reach the scene. Its "table-top" runway ends in a valley. As a result, if a plane overshoots it is likely to result in a major incident, aviation experts have said.
One witness described plumes of smoke coming from the valley after the crash. Mohammad Haris, 42, who lives near the airport, was alerted to the crash at about 6.30 am local time. "I heard a loud bang early in the morning. Initially I couldn't understand what happened, but then I saw smoke coming out from the valley near the airport."
Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, yesterday promised compensation for the victims' families, while British Foreign Secretary William Hague offered his condolences. "Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families and all others affected by the tragic plane crash in Mangalore," he said
Video: Indian plane crash survivors talk - Telegraph
The fuselage broke in two and, despite a fire and explosion, survivors scrambled to safety. Only eight of the 166 passengers and crew lived. The victims included 19 children.
One survivor, Joel Pratap D'Souza, 24, escaped unhurt after jumping through a gap in the wreckage. "I was sitting on seat number 23 and was eagerly looking forward to landing. The flight touched the ground, followed by a big bang, the plane became unbalanced and went out of the runaway," he said.
"The pilot lost control of the plane, he was trying to bring the plane to a halt, it did not happen and it halted in the forest. Within seconds the cabin filled with smoke and the plane broke apart. We saw plumes of fire coming from the plane and loud explosion," he said.
Fellow survivor Umar Farooq, described hearing a "thud" immediately after landing. " The plane lost the control and moved towards the jungle. Immediately, there was a blast, we tried to jump but couldn't because of the smoke. One side of the plane caught fire and there was a crack in the plane. I along with six other people escaped from the plane, my hand and face was burnt while fleeing from the gap.
"We walked around half a kilometre from the accident site and were rescued by locals, who took us to the hospital in an auto rickshaw. It has been a hair rising experience and I am fortunate to be still alive."
Another survivor, Pradeep Kotian, told a local television station that he thought he was going to die. "We had no hope to survive, but we survived. The plane broke into two and we jumped off the plane. As soon as the plane landed, within seconds this happened," he said.
Officials said the plane hit a radar antenna after landing, causing the plane to veer from the runway. One of the plane's wings was discovered at the end of the runway, suggesting it had broken off after hitting the radar pole.
Hiba Azeena, aged seven, who was travelling with her mother and two sisters, was initially among the passengers who survived the crash either by jumping to safety or being thrown from the plane. However, Hiba, who was seen in television pictures being taken to hospital on a stretcher, the "miracle" was short lived.
According to rescue workers, the child survived not only the crash but also an explosion which threw her through a gap in the wreckage into the surrounding jungle where she was found an hour later with broken ribs and head injuries.
She was given oxygen and medicine in an ambulance as she was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, she arrived in a critical condition and later died from her multiple injuries.
The eight survivors included one man who emerged completely unscathed from the wreckage. The tragedy happened on an Air India Express budget flight carrying low-paid Indian migrant workers returning from Dubai to their homes in Kerala.
According to India's aviation minister, Praful Patel, most of the bodies were "burnt beyond recognition."
As investigators began their inquiry to establish the cause of India's most devastating air crash since 1996, safety activists and commentators claimed the pilot and the runway were to blame for the tragedy.
Initial reports said the pilot was a British national of Serbian origin, but Air India officials later told the British High Commission that Zlatko Glusica, 53, a married father of two who died in the crash, was in fact Serbian. Officials said Mr Glusica had not sent any distress signal as the plane landed.
Nearby residents rushed to the crash site, describing "shocking" scenes as they pulled charred bodies from the wreckage.
The crash followed heavy rains in recent days that hampered the rescue effort.
It is believed cloudy conditions and reduced visibility may have contributed to the incident.
The airport is located on a plateau surrounded by hills, making it difficult for the firefighters to reach the scene. Its "table-top" runway ends in a valley. As a result, if a plane overshoots it is likely to result in a major incident, aviation experts have said.
One witness described plumes of smoke coming from the valley after the crash. Mohammad Haris, 42, who lives near the airport, was alerted to the crash at about 6.30 am local time. "I heard a loud bang early in the morning. Initially I couldn't understand what happened, but then I saw smoke coming out from the valley near the airport."
Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, yesterday promised compensation for the victims' families, while British Foreign Secretary William Hague offered his condolences. "Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families and all others affected by the tragic plane crash in Mangalore," he said
