Thaindian News

Mangalore, May 22 (ANI): One of the survivors of the Air India Express flight from Dubai to Mangalore that crashed while landing at the Mangalore airport on Saturday morning, said that it was raining outside and there was huge sound before the crash.

“I heard a loud thud before the crash,” said Omer Farooq, one of the survivors, adding that it was raining outside at the time of the crash.

“There was no arrangement. I was brought to the hospital in a bike,” he added.

The Air India officials on Saturday confirmed that there are eight survivors including four children in the Air India Express Flight from Dubai to Mangalore that crashed while landing at the Mangalore Airport this morning.

“The crash took place at around 6: 03 a.m. There were total 160 passengers, excluding six crew members. 158 are feared dead,” said Anup Kumar, Director, Air India.

“All the survivors have been admitted to the hospitals,” he added.

Dr Kadam of the AJ Hospital, where an estimated eight survivors were brought said that two people were brought dead and one was brought with some burns.

“The survivor Farooq is in a stable condition. He was brought to the hospital with ten percent burn injuries,” said Dr Kadam.

Meanwhile, Air India sources said that it was not raining outside though the visibility was six kilometers before the crash.

At least 20 fire tenders were rushed to the site as the plane was on fire and smoke was seen coming out of the airport.

The rescue operation is reported to be over, but sources said it is difficult to identify the dead.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, have expressed shock and grief over the grievous loss of life resulting from the Air India Express crash. (ANI)