rediff.com: Alliance Air Boeing 737 crashes near Patna


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July 17, 2000

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Civil aviation secretary blames pilot for crash

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Union civil aviation ministry officials on Monday furnished vital details, which indicated that the pilot of the ill-fated Alliance Air Boeing 737-200 was responsible for its crash.

"Pilot Sohan Pal had asked the air traffic controller at Patna airport permission for making an orbit before landing on runway number 25," civil aviation secretary A H Jung told reporters. He pointed out that although 'there was some haze, visibility was up to 4000 metres'.

Jung said that the time between flight CD 7412's approach for landing and the crash was minimal. Had a flaw been detected in the aircraft, pilot Sohan Pal would have alerted the ATC given his vast flying experience. Since he did no such thing, it means that there were no problems with the plane, Jung said.

The 35-year-old pilot Sohan Pal has a 'fine flying record', having logged 4326 hours, the civil aviation secretary said. The 12 Boeing 700-200 aircraft with Alliance Air are 20 years old but 'fit for service', Jung said.

"We think Sohan Pal misjudged the height and flew at lower height than is required," he contended.

Asked why the ATC had not " corrected " the ill-fated plane's height while it was approaching to land at Patna airport, Jung pointed out that the pilot did not give any indication that the aircraft was in trouble.

Jung clarified that it was normal for pilots to ask permission to make an orbit of the airport before landing as Sohan Pal had done.

The director-general of civil aviation has ordered a preliminary inquiry into the cause of the crash. Controller of Air Safety P Shah has been entrusted with the responsibility.

EARLIER REPORT
Aviation secretary blames pilot error for crash

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