'Incorrect' flight path could have caused crash: AAI official

K Ramnath Shenoy
Mangalore, May 23 (PTI) An "incorrect" flight path could
have caused the crash of the Air India Express aircraft from
Dubai at Bajpe airport here, a senior Airport Authority of
India official said Sunday.
The official, who visited the crash site, told PTI, "An
incorrect flight path could have been a possible reason (for
yesterday's mishap)."
The official, who refused to be identified, was called in
to assist in the investigations into the crash, which killed
all but eight of 166 people on board. The plane overshot the
runway, veered off and plunged into a ravine before bursting
into flames.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the crash site
Saturday in Mangalore city in south India, India's Civil
Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said the aircraft did not
contain itself within the limited space on touchdown and
overshot the spillover area on the runway.
He had also stated that the runway was operationally
compliant and technically fit for operating an aircraft of
Boeing 737-800 series and the plane was just two-and-a-half
years old with no history of defects or malfunctioning.
Patel had also said visibility was sufficient, the runway
dry and the two pilots, including the commander, an expatriate
from Serbia, had good flying experience.
The minister had, however, refused to comment on whether
the accident was a result of pilot error and said he would
await the report of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation,
which is inquiring into the disaster. PTI RS
MRD