Plane crash inquiry finds that pilot suffered from sleep inertia

Dubai/New Delhi: A Court of Inquiry appointed by the Indian government to probe the plane crash that took place on May 22 has concluded that flight commander Zlatko Glusica was disoriented and his reactions were slow while bringing the aircraft in for a landing at Mangalore airport, Hindustan Times newspaper reported.

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the newspaper article was accurate, but said the report would be made public only after it was presented to the Indian Parliament, reported AP.

The inquiry panel examined information contained in the digital flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder of the aircraft, which caught the sound of heavy snoring and breathing.

10,200 hours

The inquiry confirmed that the Serbian pilot, who has 10,200 hours of flying experience was suffering from 'sleep inertia' after his nap and was 'disoriented when the plane was ready to land.

The co-pilot, H.S. Ahluwalia, is heard repeatedly warning Glusica to abort the landing and try the procedure again. The last words captured by the recorders as the plane crashed were those of one of the pilots saying, "Oh my God."

Abdul Rahman, who lost his wife and only son, is blaming Air India of playing games with the relatives of the victims by delaying their rightful compensation.

"The least they can do to alleviate the suffering of the grieving families is by handing over a decent monetary compensation because many families have lost their breadwinners," he said.

Many families complain that they are not even contacted by the legal firm Mulla and Mulla that represents Air India, and those who have been contacted has accused the firm of trying to bring down the amount to be paid to families.

Life has changed forever

Santosh Rai, who lost his wife and two children, aged nine years and nine months said life has changed forever for him and his elder son after May 22.

"When we come back home in the evening, there is a stony silence in the place of laughter and mirth. Nobody can comprehend the depth of our loss. My son says he cannot sleep in the night and he walks out of the house in the wee hours. And there is nothing in this world that can bring back our happiness," said Rai a private firm employee.

The Air India Express flight from Dubai to Mangalore in southern India overshot a hilltop runway, crashed and plunged over a cliff, killing 158 people instantly. Eight people survived the crash.

There was no immediate comment on the report from the airline.

India's Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters the government would study the report before taking any action.

Photo: Civilians crowd around the remains of the Air India Express plane that crashed in Mangalore, in the southern Indian state of Karnataka on May 22, 2010.
Image Credit: AP