Airports systemic error responsible for May 22 Air crash: ESG

06.06.10 Mangalore : The Mangalore International Airport ‘s second expanded runway had serious structural flaws, which caused terrible air tragedy on May 22, said Mr. Leo Saldanha of Environmental Support Group (ESG) Bangalore. 

He was speaking at the press conference held at Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work on June 5, Saturday. Pointing out the systematic error he said that, it was not a not a human error but a systemic error caused due to the irresponsibility of decision and policy makers. Hence to avoid this tragedy further, it must be investigated not by individual investigators, but by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. 

 He also said that the ESG had proposed a plan to the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India, according to which a runway extending from Puchchala village to the present terminal building in Kenjar village to give the airport of over 12,000 feet runway, to match with international runway standards.  This plan made earlier would have saved the lives of the 158 victims of the May 22 plane crash. 

The second runway of Bajpe Airport had been constructed without taking into consideration international safety standards such as 12,000ft of runway and 300ft width of runway with 90m arrester, he informed. The AAI, the DGCA, the Bureau of Indian Aviation Safety, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have neglected all the safety guidelines, he added.