There could be more survivors: Air India

MUMBAI - There could be more survivors in Saturday’s Air India Expres air crash at Mangalore than eight of its passengers being treated for injuries at hospitals in the city, airline officials manning the helpline numbers here said.

“We have reports coming in that there could be more survivors,” said one official at the helpline. “But these are unconfirmed reports. You may please call us any time for an update,” the official told IANS.

The plane, which crashed while landing at the Mangalore airport, had 166 people — 137 adults, 19 children, four infants and six crew, according to the civil aviation ministry.

The airline said 116 bodies, some charred beyond recognition, had been recovered so far.

The Air India Express Flight 812 was flying in from Dubai and crashed while landing at the airport, which is surrounded by deep gorges. The plane erupted in fire after overshooting the runway and plunged down a cliff.