Air India Express crash: Fortunate to be alive, says survivor

"It has been a hair raising experience and I am fortunate to be still alive," says Umar Farooq, one of the lucky survivors of the fatal Air India aircraft crash in Mangalore today.

Farooq, who suffered burns on his face and hands, managed to jump out of the aircraft as it caught fire after one of its wings hit a hillock before landing at Kenjar near Mangalore.

He said the aircraft experienced turbulence and crashed in a forest area.

"The aircraft was full. But I don't know the number of passengers on board", he said, adding he heard a loud thud.

There was a commotion after the aircraft caught fire and smoke engulfed it, he said, adding, "I saw a broken passage in the aircraft and I jumped out of it".

He said he walked for about half a kilometre inside the rocky terrain and locals who saw him took him on a motorcycle for some distance, before rushing him to a hospital by an autorickshaw.

The ill-fated plane had on board 160 passengers, including four infants, and six crew members.

Farooq is among the eight surviving passengers.

"It is a rebirth for me. Allah did not leave my side and it is the blessings of my elders that I came out of this ghastly crash almost unscathed. However, shivers are still running down by spine as I recall the horrifying experience", said Abdullah Puttur Ismail, another survivor.

Ismail has been discharged after being administered first aid at K S Hegde hospital.

Recounting the horrible experience, Ismail, 32, said the plane was on the runway when he heard a deafening sound from a tyre and then the plane crashed. "I somehow gathered my wits and removed my seatbelt and as I peeped out, I saw the right wing which was scraping the ground, had caught
fire. When I looked up I saw a gaping hole. Somehow, I climbed up the seat and jumped out from the hole, straight into a thorny bush".

"My only thought was to escape. Unmindful of gashes on my legs and arms, I walked half a kilometre. Some locals who had gathered, helped me to a place, made me sit and gave me some water. I then contacted my brother who was already on his way to receive me and with his help came to the hospital".

Ismail, a port manager in Dubai, had taken 10 days emergency leave as he was suffering from severe shoulder pain. 

"I am just waiting see my wife and my two year-old little daughter", he said in a choked voice. 

Another survivor said he jumped out of the aircraft, which broke up after the crash. 

"It's a miracle", he said. "I could see fire breaking out. Had I been late by even five minutes, I would not have been alive now".