Two crashes, same plot: Kozhikode reminds of Mangalore mishap 10 years ago

Back in 2010, an Air India Categorical aircraft overshot the runway at Mangalore airport, fell into a gorge, caught fire and 158 persons misplaced their lives. And the crash of the airline’s airplane in Kozhikode on Friday is a stark reminder of that incident ten a long time back.

In both scenarios, Air India Categorical pilots had overshot tabletop runways. Also, the flights were coming from Dubai.

In its report on the Mangalore incident that occurred on May well 22, 2010, the Court docket of Inquiry had said the immediate bring about was the captain’s failure to discontinue the unstabilised method of the airplane.

“In spite of the constraints of terrain bordering the tabletop runway, the rescue and fire fighthing functions had been carried out with thanks diligence,” the report dated Oct 31, 2010 said.

As per the report, Air India Express’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft overran the runway, including the strip and the RESA (Runway Close Security Spot).

“It then impacted the concrete mounting construction of ILS (Instrument Landing Method) Localiser Antenna and fell into a gorge. In the resultant influence and post crash fire, 152 passengers and all six crew associates misplaced their lives. There were 8 survivors,” the report said.

ALSO Read through: DGCA, airport authority disregarded warnings on Kozhikode table best runway

On Friday, the airline’s airplane overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport, fell into a slope before breaking into two items. When there was no fire, at least eighteen persons, including two pilots, are useless in the crash, which also occurred when there were rains.

Tabletop runways are built in a hilly or an elevated terrain.

The 2010 report had said that there were 3 tabletop airports in the country from in which scheduled flights operate at Mangalore, Kozhikode and Lengpui.

“Because of the undulating terrain and constraints of house, these airfields involve further ability and caution while carrying out flight functions.

“The hazard of undershooting and overshooting, in particular, can guide to grave conditions, as was the scenario in this incident,” the report said.

Even more, the report also said that tabletop runways have a dilemma of entry streets all over the airfield, which may perhaps will need to be applied in scenario of aircraft accidents.

Citing the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) knowledge, the report had also said that most of the accidents happen in the course of landing and get-off phases, with a massive quantity of runway excursions and aircraft overrunning into the overshoot location.

“Considering the massive momentum of these aircraft, a downward slope in the overrun location can worsen the outcome. It is hence advisable that such downward slopes as obtaining in Mangalore be brought to the same amount of the runway area.

“This also demands to be ensured at all tabletop airports in the country,” the report said.

The Court docket of Inquiry had said the bring about of the incident was the captain’s failure to discontinue the “unstabilised method” and his persistence in continuing with the landing, in spite of 3 phone calls from the very first officer to “go all over” and a quantity of warnings from Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Method (EGPWS).

This was stated as the immediate bring about of the incident.

At the time of Mangalore crash, there was no Plane Incident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which was set up only in 2012.

The AAIB is probing the Kozhikode incident.