Mangalore plane crash probe commences

Mangalore plane crash probe commences

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 23: The investigative team has already begun probing the Mangalore plane crash, which claimed 158 lives on Saturday morning and is believed to be the worst aviation disaster India has experienced in the past 14 years. 

The probe, which was called off late Saturday night, will recommence on Sunday morning. The focus will be on retrieving the Black Box or the flight recorder data, which is hoped to shed light on the causes of the disaster.

Survivors reported to have heard a thud shortly after touchdown and said that the fuselage shattered into two beginning to fill the plane with fire and thick smoke. Survivor Umer Farooq reported that the plane dashed off toward some trees and the cabin was filled with smoke. He found himself entangled in the cables, but managed to scramble out to safety.

Television images of the crash showed smoke emerging from the fuselage as emergency rescue teams rushed down the steep slopes as fast as they could to douse the deadly fire with foams. Rescue workers spent hours retrieving the bodies of the passengers and crew, many of which were found still strapped to the seats. 

The Mangalore plane crash is said to be the deadliest crash in India since 1996 when two planes crashed into each other mid air near New Delhi, killing 349 people on board. Aviation Minister Praful Patel informed journalists that investigations are on and that it is too “early” to come to a conclusion regarding the tragic crash.