The Air India Express jet that overshot the runway on Friday, killing at least 18 people, had touched down too far along the airstrip, the head of India’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation told international media, as investigations continue.
Arun Kumar, director general of the DGCA, told CNN News-18 that the plane landed about 1000 meters into a 3000 meter-long runway, causing it to breach a further 240-metre safety area at high speed and crashing into a valley next to the airport.
“Looks like,” Kumar said when asked by CNN if the crash was the result of bad judgment. “They should have landed before 1,000 feet, but they have landed more than 3,000 or so, exact numbers will come out from the flight data recorder.”
Both flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been recovered from the wreckage the two-year-old Boeing 737-800 which was carrying 184 passengers, as well as six crew. The current number of dead stands at 18, including both pilots. Investigations continue.