MP Nalin urges center to expand the runway

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar urged the union government to extend the length of the runway at Mangaluru international Airport and also develop the basic facilities here by holding discussion with the concerned authorities and taking proper action. Speaking at the Zero Hour during the Lok Sabha session, the MP proposed that the runway at the airport be extended. On June 30th, an Air India Express flight arriving from Dubai landed at MIA and veered off of the taxiway. However, a major mishap was missed by the breadth of a hair. If in case the plane had gone ahead by another 20 feet, there was a possibility for the occurrence of a major accident. On May 22nd 2010, an Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the runway here and crashed into the valley claiming the lives of 158 passengers. Similarly, on Aug 19 1981, an Indian Airline plane overshot the runway and came to halt in a ditch. The short length of the runway is the cause behind all these incidents. Therefore the central government must increase the length of the runway and develop the basic facilities at Mangaluru International Airport and also conduct a complete investigation, urged the MP. Source: Udayavani