Mangaluru, Karnataka: As India raises fresh concerns about aviation safety in light of recent Air India incidents, painful memories from May 22, 2010, have returned to haunt Mangaluru — the site of the Air India Express Flight IX 812 crash, one of the deadliest air disasters in the country’s history.
Of the 166 people on board, 158 lost their lives when the Dubai–Mangaluru flight overran the runway at Mangaluru International Airport, plunged into a gorge, and burst into flames. Only eight passengers survived.
🕯️ Survivors Remember the Tragedy
K Pradeep, now a civil contractor in Mangaluru, is one of the few who lived to tell the tale. Every year on May 22, he visits the crash memorial at Kulur, laying flowers and offering prayers in remembrance.
“I believe it was the blessings from my parents and their good deeds that protected me,” Pradeep told PTI, recalling the exact moment the plane veered off the runway and exploded.
Usman Farooq, another survivor, now serves with an ambulance service. For him, survival came through a miraculous escape near the wing, where the fuselage split, allowing him to crawl out.
“I see my work in emergency services as a way to repay life’s gift. I was saved for a reason,” Farooq said, reflecting on the moment that changed his life forever.
✈️ What Happened on May 22, 2010?
- Flight IX 812, a Boeing 737, was operating the Dubai–Mangaluru route.
- The aircraft landed 5,200 feet down an 8,000-foot runway, leaving inadequate room to stop.
- It overshot the runway, plunged into a steep valley, and broke apart, igniting a massive fire.
📋 Investigation Findings
A DGCA inquiry concluded that pilot error was the primary cause. The captain, despite warnings from the co-pilot and the ground proximity alert system, continued with an unstable approach.
The report also revealed:
- The captain had been asleep for much of the flight and likely suffered from “sleep inertia”, impairing his judgement after waking.
- The aircraft hit a non-frangible localiser antenna, which wasn’t built to break on impact — a violation of international safety norms.
The Court of Inquiry, led by Air Marshal B.N. Gokhale, corroborated these findings and highlighted infrastructure deficiencies at the airport as contributing factors.
🕊️ Legacy of the Tragedy
Fifteen years later, the Mangaluru crash serves as a grim reminder of the importance of pilot alertness, airport safety standards, and timely aircraft decision-making. Survivors continue to remember that day with pain, gratitude, and a sense of purpose.