Court of Inquiry commences at Mangalore on August 17

Court of Inquiry commences at Mangalore on August 17

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, August 18: The Court of Inquiry (CoI) chaired by Former Air Marshal B. Neelkanth Gokhale commenced on Aug 17, Tuesday in the old terminal building and will continue on Aug 18 – 19 too.

Officials from Air India (AI), Airport Authority of India (AAI), fire department, and Air Traffic Control Guild (ATCG) deposed before the CoI. The ATCG stated that the ill-fated Air India Express Boeing 747 had overshot the landing threshold by several metres and was at an awkward angle and altitude when it approached the Mangalore Airport runway. However, it maintained contact with the ATC till it landed.


AI officials stated that the aircraft was one of then newest crafts in the AI fleet and was just one year old and was perfectly airworthy. The pilots were both experienced and had landed at Mangalore Airport several times in the past.


The AAI said that the ILS was in perfect working condition at the point of landing and that the pilot was in touch with the ATS according to ILS readings.


Mr. Basavanna, the resident fire officer, stated that the fire engines from Kadri fire stations were the first to reach the spot, but found it difficult to reach the site of the crash because the access road was jammed with vehicles. The fire department engines sprayed foam on the flames, in the process of which one of the firemen found an infant who was still alive and rushed it to the hospital in an ambulance.


Mr. Neelkanth later told reporters that it was too early to come to a conclusion and that there will be two more rounds of enquiry at Mangalore and Delhi before he could submit a report.