DGCA permits resumption of flights at MIA

Bajpe: In the backdrop of the near brush with disaster of the Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the main taxiway while approaching the parking place from the runway after landing at the Mangaluru International Airport; normalcy has been restored at the airport.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has since given permission to resume operation of all the flights at the airport after conducting verification of the runway. Earlier, soon after the incident, all operations had been suspended.

In the incident which posed mortal danger to 189 persons including six crew members, two children and 181 other passengers and escaped death by a whisker, it is suspected that the aircraft might have entered the unpaved strip (grassland) due to high speed.

The pilot of the aircraft had attempted to land at the airport at 5.32 pm but it could not, hence he landed plane in the second attempt at 5.42 pm. Even as it was touching down at the runway, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) observed that the aircraft was moving at high speed.

Loud sound and a violent stop

Speaking to “Udayavani”, Ashwini from Bandadka in Kasaragod who was aboard the flight from Dubai with her two children said, “The aircraft did not land immediately after reaching the airport but landed after a couple of rounds in the air. The aircraft touched down and moved ahead when there was a loud sound; the aircraft shook violently and came to a halt. Not knowing what happened, we all got scared. Later, we were alighted from the plane, boarded into a bus and taken to the terminal building.”

Hold detailed investigation

District in-charge minister U T Khader has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the union civil aviation ministry to hold detailed investigation by considering the incident seriously. He also informed that he had asked the concerned to also verify if the incident was because of pilot error or a fault in the aircraft or if the facilities provided with at the airport were inadequate. Highest attention must be provided for the safe travel of passengers, urged Khader.