Aircrash 'a tragedy waiting to happen'

Nine Boeing 737s have crashed in India in last 30 years

The Indian media described Monday's aircrash in the northern city of Patna as "a tragedy waiting to happen."

Fifty-one passengers and crew and several people on the ground were killed when an Alliance Air plane crashed into a government housing estate, just a kilometre away from Patna airport.

The Times of India wrote "'Bon voyage' is perhaps something you should not wish a traveller on Indian Airlines, given its abysmal safety record."

The newspaper said the Patna aircrash was the ninth fatal accident involving a Boeing 737 series aircraft in India in the last 30 years.

'Bon voyage' is perhaps something you should not wish a traveller on Indian Airlines given its abysmal safety record

The Times of India

It said that, while the enquiry into the crash would probably look at safety standards and pilot error, "the real issues are much larger, indeed the root cause lies in our failure to learn from past errors and our complete disregard for safety and maintenance in all sectors."

The Indian Express said the Patna crash came just two days after the release of a report on the December 1999 hijacking on an Indian Airlines aircraft to Kandahar.

"After studying 16 airports across the country, it (the enquiry committee) announced that Indian airports are ill-run, ill-managed, technically ill-equipped and have poor security and safety systems," the newspaper wrote.

Airworthiness

The Asian Age alleged that the government had ignored reports about the airworthiness of Alliance Air.

"Alliance Air was treated as a stepchild, being given the non-VIP hopping routes, cast away aircraft and crew, including retired pilots on extension."

The newspaper further said that "aircraft which would have been thrown away in other countries were transferred to Alliance Air."

Alliance Air was treated as a stepchild, being given the non-VIP hopping routes, cast away aircraft and crew, including retired pilots on extension

The Asian Age

The Hindustan Times was less harsh on the ageing Boeing 737-200s.

"Many private operators use the same aircraft and while Alliance Air planes are old (average age: nearly 18 years), they are not so ancient that they deserve to be junked. One instance: the VIP aircraft that fly the President and the Prime Minister are the same vintage."

But the newspaper did accuse Indian Airlines of turning a blind eye to pressing needs.

"In late 1999, a Taiwanese company wrote to Indian Airlines offering to buy all 12 of the Boeing 737-200s that were being operated by Alliance.

"The offer was rejected, even though the money could have been used to buy newer and better aircraft."