AI plane crashes in Mangalore, 160 dead

New Delhi: At least 160 people are feared dead as a Mangalore bound Air India Express flight coming in from Dubai with 173 people on board overshot the Mangalore airport runway on Saturday at 6:30 AM while attempting to land. According to eyewitness account the plane burst into flames soon after it overshot the runway while landing.
"Around 160 people are feared dead in the crash. Only six to seven might have survived," Karnataka Home Minister VS Acharya told CNN-IBN.
The flight IX-892, operated by a Boeing 737-800, had 163 passengers, four infants and six crew members on board.
Police officials say that rescue and relief operations are on and some people have been admitted to the hospitals.
"Eight to 10 people have been shifted to hospitals. Although if they will survive is unsure. They are being treated. This is a highly unfortunate event. The police force, bomb squad, fire force, KSRP and all the hospitals are working unitedly to help out in this situation. We are doing the best we can," said Karnataka Western Range Inspector General of Police Gopal B Hosur.
The firefighters have reached the spot and efforts are on to rescue the survivors.
Initial investigations reveal that the plane landed about 2000 feet away from the touch down point on the runway. The pilot was a Russian while the Co-pilot is SS Ahluwalia. Both the pilots were based in Mangalore.
Sources in Air India tell CNN-IBN that the length of the runway is comparatively small but the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained but the weather factor cannot be ruled out.
22/05/10 CNN-IBN

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