By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Mangalore: At least 160 people are feared dead this morning after an Air India Express aircraft from Dubai, carrying 173 passengers, crash-landed near Mangalore airport in Karnataka. At least 6-8 people have been rescued. They are in critical condition. Soon after the crash, the aircraft was engulfed in fire.
According to reports, the plane overshot the runway while landing at the Mangalore airport on Saturday morning. Rescue operation was hampered by the thick smoke that engulfed the plane. About 25 fire tenders and ambulances have been pressed into operation. The incident took place near a valley 10 km from the airport.
The flight IX-892, operated by a Boeing 737-800, had 163 adult passengers, 4 infants and 6 crew members on board.
AI has opened helpline centre at Delhi Airport and the two numbers are 011-2565-6196 and 011-2560-3101. Mangalore Helpline number is 0824-2220422.