Air India plane crash survivors tell of escape from burning aircraft
Survivors of a plane crash in India, which killed at least 158 people, have spoken of their escape from the burning aircraft as it broke apart.
Survivors jumped from the plane as it began to break up after touchdown on the runway at Mangalore in southern India.
Survivor Pradeep G Kotian, 28, said: “The flight started fine from Dubai and there was no problem en route. The pilot announced landing and we were all prepared, with our seat-belts on.
“As soon as the plane touched the runway, it started vibrating and before we could realise what was happening, we heard a loud sound and the plane broke into two pieces. Then there was smoke and fire on the plane.”
He added that he could hear the screams and shouts of people around him but said: “Nobody could do anything.”
“Luckily, I saw the opening where the plane had split into two, and I jumped out of it. I could see three others who had also jumped out from the same opening.”
Another survivor, 47-year-old Krishnan K, thanked God for his miraculous escape.
“It happened all of a sudden and I considered myself really lucky to have survived this crash. I thank God for my survival,” he said.
Mayan Kutty, 48, believes today was “the luckiest day of his life”.
He said: “I consider myself really lucky. As soon as I jumped out of the plane, I spoke to my wife thinking she might be worried…She was shocked to hear the news.”
Investigators have reportedly recovered the black box from the aircraft.
Air India confirmed that 160 passengers were on board the flight, as well as two pilots and four cabin crew.
Eight people survived the crash and are being treated for their injuries.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the pilot was a British citizen of Serbian origin.
