Mangalore is in a state of shock following what can be termed as one of the worst tragedies of India’s flying history. Frequent fliers recall how landing at the Mangalore airport has always been scary. Landing here gives passengers the “jitters”, according to music director Sandeep Chowta, a frequent flier to Mangalore.
Some feel that the Mangalore airport has small runways and even though one of them has been extended, the airport still does not meet the standards of an international airport. Some of them feel that the crash was caused by a pilot error and unfortunate circumstances.
With the wedding season just on, and festivities round the corner, a lot of people from Dubai were on this flight to be with their kin. This tragedy has shocked the entire city. “This is a wake up call for the entire aviation industry. Maybe more lives could have been saved if the airport authorities were cautious. They need to buck up and make sure that the airports and airlines are well equipped to at least land properly,” says ace swimmer Nisha Millet. On a similar vein, artist Gurudas Shenoy says, “The government should do what it takes to make the airport safe. It has to be transparent in such matters.”
Former Indian hockey player Ashish Ballal had another take. “I work for Air India. I feel this was a genuine pilot error and had nothing to do with Air India per say. There have been thousands of safe landings. These kinds of freak accidents happen with private airlines too but they are simply not speculated upon as much.”
A majority of the people feel that the placement of the airport added to the woes. Overshooting of the runway would not have been this lethal if not for the terrain, they believe. Also, medical services could have been quicker. “The Mangalore runway was generally considered dangerous. Though nothing had happened before this, there was always a fear that something would,” says Dr Anil Shetty, a paediatrician.
Frequent Air India fliers opine that since Air India is a low cost airline, the common man prefers to fly with it. “Citizens should not feel fear while travelling in their national carrier. Pilots should be well rested and not overworked especially when they man long duration international flights,” adds Shenoy.
