Mumbai Plane Crash: Aircraft Was Under Repair for 18 Months
5 people were confirmed dead after a chartered plane crashed in a residential area of Mumbai’s Ghatkopar on 28 June
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A 12-seater aircraft crashed in a crowded Mumbai suburb Ghatkopar on 28 June, killing both the pilots and two aircraft maintenance engineers on board, besides a pedestrian, the police said.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the site in Ghatkopar where the plane crashed on Thursday, 28 June, killing four people on board and one pedestrian.
- The aircraft had taken off from the Juhu airstrip on a test flight
- It lost control when it was four nautical miles from Juhu
Five People's Deaths Was Because of Shock from Burns & Poly-Trauma: Report
The post-mortem report of the 5 people who had lost their lives in the flight crash in Mumbai's Ghatkopar states the reason of their death as 'shock due to burn & poly-trauma’, ANI reported.
We Want to Know Who Exactly Was at Fault: Husband of Deceased Co-Pilot
Husband of the co-pilot of the chartered plane, on 29 June, sought to know who cleared the flight despite the adverse weather conditions and if the aircraft was fit for flying.
Prabhat Kathuria, the husband of Marya Zuberi, the co-pilot who along with four others was killed in the incident, is still to come to terms with the loss.
Prabhat Kathuria, the husband of late Marya Zuberi, the co-pilot who lost her life in the crash, issued a statement saying, "The company involved in the ill-fated plane's repairs seems to have been incapable of detecting the technical snags that could have led to its crash."
"She was sure that the permission to undertake such a flight would not be given," the statement read.
"Considering Captain (Pradip) Rajput held and shared the same view with Marya, I was confident they would not fly this day. The weather conditions were just not right," he said.
Kathuria also questioned if the aircraft was fit to fly.
"We know that the aircraft was well beyond its prime. We know it was more than 20 years old. We know it had already had an accident in 2009 and that the UP government chose to sell it rather than spend on its repairs. Considering all... the family of Marya Zuberi wants answers. We want to know who exactly was at fault," he said.
Kathuria said UY Aviation, the owners of the aircraft, "seem to have completely disregarded their responsibility to check whether such a plane should go off the ground".
Mortal Remains of Victims Handed Over to Families
The mortal remains of people who lost their lives in the chartered plane crash in Ghatkopar was handed over to their families at Rajawadi Hospital on Friday, 29 June.
'Aircraft Was Repaired After Being Sold to Indamer Aviation'
The aircraft was repaired after it was sold to Indamer Aviation & damaged parts were also replaced. But the incident is really unfortunate as it claimed 5 lives: Kanu Gohain, Executive Director of Indamer Aviation Pvt Ltd (IAPL) on Mumbai chartered plane crash.
Reports: This Was Aircraft's First Test Flight Since Crash in 2014
CNN News18 reported that the aircraft had met with a crash in 2014 as well. The crash on 28 June in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar, was the aircraft’s first test flight since the 2014 crash, CNN News18 added.
UY Aviation: Certificate of Airworthiness Can Only Be Obtained After a Test Flight
Moments after CNN News18 reported that the aircraft in question was “unfit to fly” and did not have a Certificate of Airworthiness, UY Aviation, the company the aircraft was registered to, said in a statement that there was no wrongdoing on their part.
Aircraft Did Not Have Certificate of Airworthiness: Report
The aircraft that crashed on 28 June in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar did not have a Certificate of Airworthiness, CNN News18 reported.
A current and valid certificate of Airworthiness is mandatory under Rule 15 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 before a flight registered in India can be flown in the country.
However, as per the Aircraft Rules, an aircraft can be flown without a valid certificate, for a test flight.
Reports claimed that the flight was on a test flight and reportedly crashed as it was about to land.
Watch: CCTV Camera Captures Last Moments Before Crash
A CCTV camera in a building near the crash site captured the last moments before the chartered plan hit a vehicle and burst into flames.
Juhu Airport Authorities Issue Statement
The Juhu Airport Authority released a statement over the crash of a chartered plane in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar on Thursday.
“An aircraft of UA Aviation Pvt Ltd departed from Juhu airport at 12.20pm & lost ATC contact at 1.08 pm. Total 4 persons of the Company were on-board. No private passenger was on -board,” the statement read
Aircraft Allowed Take-off Despite Unsuitable Weather: Husband of Deceased Pilot
Prabhat, husband of deceased pilot Mari Zuberi has alleged that the aircraft was ordered to be flown despite unsuitable weather conditions. Having spoken to Zuberi over the phone before the aircraft took off, Prabhat has demanded a probe into why the aircraft was allowed to take off.
Former CM Ashok Chavan Expresses Grief
Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan took to Twitter to express grief over the death of five people in the Ghatkopar plane crash.
It's a Worrying Incident: Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the site of chartered plane crash in Mumbai's Ghatkopar and said that the ones responsibe need to be found out.
"It is a worrying incident. What were the reasons behind the crash and who is responsible for it needs to be found out,” said Fadnavis.
UP Govt Sold Aircraft to UY Aviation in 2014
The UP government had sold the aircraft to Mumbai’s UY Aviation Company in 2014, UP Civil Aviation Minister Nand Gopal Gupta told ANI.
“UP government sold the aircraft to a private aviation company in 2014 and they were responsible for its maintenance. The incident has nothing to do with UP government,” said Kumar.
Bystander Killed in Mumbai Plane Crash Was a Watchman, Say Locals
The bystander who died was the watchman guarding the construction site in Ghatkopar’s Jagruti Nagar, say locals. The body is charred and is still being identified.
Black Box of the Plane Recovered
Black box of the chartered plane that crashed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar has been reportedly recovered.
Directed DGCA for Speedy Investigation: Aviation Minister
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu took to Twitter to express grief over the crash and said that he has directed the DGCA to conduct an investigation at the earliest.
Victims On board Aircraft Identified
Those on board the aircraft have been identified as Captain PS Rajput, co-pilot Maria Zuberi, aircraft mechanical engineer Surbhi, and aircraft technician Manish Pandey.
Witnesses: Flight Crashed Through the Trees and Exploded on Impact
Aircraft Was on a Test Flight, DGCA Team en Route to Investigate Crash
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the aircraft took off from Juhu Airport on a test flight. It added that a team was en route the crash site to investigate the incident.
Details of Crash
The aircraft, which was reportedly sold by the UP Govt to UY Aviation in 2014, still carried the logo of the UP government, according to the state’s Principal Secretary of Information,
Other details of the crash, from the Mumbai Fire department, reveals the call about the fire was received at 1:16 pm. The fire engines arrived at 1.37 pm and extinguished the fire soon after.
Details Released by Fire Brigade
- 4 persons were suspected to be on board
- 2 charred bodies were recovered
- 3 fire engines, one jumbo water tanker were on site and extinguished the fire with 2 hose line jets
Five People Dead, Including Pilot and a Pedestrian
Five people, including the pilot of the craft have been reported dead in the crash. Four fire engines and two water tankers have been rushed to the spot.
UP Govt Clarifies That Aircraft Does Not Belong To Them
The UP Govt, in a statement to CNN News18, stated that the craft does not belong to them.
The aircraft was reportedly sold by the UP Govt in 2014 to a private company named UY Aviation.
Chartered Plane Crashes in Open Area in Ghatkopar
An aircraft crashed in an open area in Mumbai's Ghatkopar, ANI reported.
Teams of the fire brigade have been rushed to the spot, the Mumbai Fire brigade said.
Two people have reportedly died in the crash, according to CNN News18.
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