Cause of crash: 'Incorrect' flight path or pilot fatigue?

Mangalore: An "incorrect" flight path, missing the touchdown point, a brake failure, pilots' fatigue and judgemental error are various reasons being given out by technical experts for the air crash at Mangalore.
The Boeing 737-800 of the Air India Express yesterday overshot the runway and its 90 metre long spillover area, plunged into a ravine and burst into flames claiming 158 lives. While an official claimed that an "incorrect" flight path taken by the pilots of the ill-fated plane led to overshooting of the runway, this was being countered by another who said the ATC had given clearance to the aircraft to pursue the flight path and lock on to the Instrument Landing System when the aircraft was 10 miles away.
A section of senior pilots, including the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, have already been blaming pilot fatigue for being responsible for the major accident.
There was also a view that the cockpit crew of flight IX-892 might have tried to have a smooth landing instead of landing on a thud and, hence, overflew the touchdown point on the 8,000 feet runway. The touchdown point is an area of about 500 feet on the runway where the aircraft's wheels should touch for landing.
This, the sources said, could have been done as the airline has been insisting on avoiding bumpy landings.
23/05/10 Press Trust of India

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