<< Back to Elections 2024

What it feels like to survive a plane crash

Updated on: 23 May,2010 07:58 AM IST |
Bipin Singh |

Ex-airhostess Anita Dabas who was on board IC-491 which crashed at Aurangabad in 1993, rescued some of the 55 passengers who survived

Ex-airhostess Anita Dabas who was on board IC-491 which crashed at Aurangabad in 1993, rescued some of the 55 passengers who survived

Seventeen years after Delhi-based 44 year-old Anita Dabas turned saviour when IC-491 crashed at Aurangabad, memories flooded back as she watched the horrific images of the Mangalore crash on television on Saturday morning.

The afternoon flight had taken off from Aurangabad on April 26, 1993. "It scattered into pieces within seconds and everybody seated in the front survived. The rear end rows faced maximum casualties. Everything happened so suddenly but I remember opening the front door to allow some passengers to rush out. I exited last, after they had made a safe exit. I felt lucky to survive but still feel the pain of losing the guests and friends on board," added Dabas, who was just 27 then.

Dabas recalled how everybody was unprepared after the crash. "People were crying and looking for their relatives and survivors. I remember a flight captain was travelling as a guest on-board with his family. I spoke to him just before departure; they were all killed in the accident. One of my senior colleagues also died in the crash. These memories haunt you forever."

How the 1993 crash happened
Before it could gain enough height, the aircraft's wheel gear hit a high-rise truck, loaded with cotton, passing on the road close to the runway. The landing gear of the aircraft broke off under the impact and the aircraft swerved to the left. Thereafter, it hit a power transmission line and crashed in the field.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels