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Mangalore airport has a table-top runway which means that it is located on a hill top, which demands accuracy with no room for error while landing. According to reports, Z Glucia was an experienced pilot and familiar with Mangalore terrain and had been on this route several times before.The pilot did not report any malfunction to the Airport Traffic Control (ATC), before landing.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that there may have been a tyre burst, which made it difficult for the pilot to bring the aircraft to a halt. Most of the passengers on the flight were from Kerala.The flight IX-812, operated by a Boeing 737-800, had 163 passengers, four infants and six crew members on board.
"At least 160 passengers have died in the crash, five to six people have been taken to hospital, their condition is not known." said V.S. Acharya, home minister Karnataka. "It is a great tragedy. I express deep sympathy for them. About 160 people were on board. I am rushing to Mangalore by emergency helicopter.It is feared that most of the people are dead," said Yeddyurappa
TV images showed it struck a forested area. Flames were seen blazing from of some of the wreckage as rescue workers fought to bring the fire under control.
"The plane had broken into two. I jumped out of the plane after it crashed. I saw two other people also come out," Abdullah, a survivor from the plane, told local channel from hospital.
Helpline Numbers
- Mangalore Helpline Numbers: 0824-2220422, 0824-2220424
- Delhi Helpline Numbers: 011-25656196, 011-25603101
- Air India Express Dubai Airport Telephone Numbers: 00971-4-2165828/00971-4-2165829
