Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, visibly tired after a long day, spoke to the media in the evening after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Patel took moral responsibility for the accident and said the families of the deceased will be paid according to the Montreal Convention. Edited excerpts from the interaction:
On the pilots
The pilot and co-pilot were both experienced. The pilot had experience of over 10,000 hours, out of which 7,500 hours were as commander. Out of his total experience, 2,700 hours were on a Boeing 737 aircraft. The commander also had experience of over 15 takeoffs and landings at Mangalore. The co-pilot, who had earlier worked with Jet Airways, had flying experience of more than 5,300 hours, out of which 3,300 hours were on a Boeing 737 aircraft. He had landed over 50 times at the Mangalore airport.
On the flying conditions
This was a relatively new aircraft and had been in operation for the last two-and-a-half years with no reported shortcomings. The air was clam, the visibility was 6 km and the runway was dry.
On the crash
As a part of the civil aviation family, I feel very saddened and morally responsible. I have always said civil aviation does not function on chance. It is either 100 per cent successful or faulty.
On the rescue work
I personally monitored the rescue operations. Since the wreckage was on a hill slope, it was a difficult job to carry out the rescue operations. But with the help of the local administration, the operations were carried out.
On the casualties
All our sympathies go out to the bereaved family. According to the Montreal Convention, the deceased family will get compensation up to $160,000. Injured too will be treated and compensated according to the Montreal Convention. Some of the passengers had a miraculous escape. Passengers who survived were on the middle seat of rows 7, 17, 21 and 23. I met them in the hospital.
On meeting the prime minister
As a part of the council of ministers, I met the prime minister to brief him on the crash after overseeing all the rescue work. He expressed grief and said all things are not in our hands.
On his resignation
Everything that I discussed with the prime minister need not be discussed with the media.
