Tributes paid to Mangalore air crash victims

The victims of the 2010 Mangalore air crash here were today remembered on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the aviation disaster with officials paying homage.

One of the country's worst aviation disasters, Air India Express flight 812 coming here from Dubai overshot the runway and crashed while landing at the international airport in the early hours of May 22, 2010 killing 158 passengers.

At a memorial function held by the District Administration, a one minute silence was observed. District Minister in-charge Ramanath Rai, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim and Mayor Mahabala Marla offered floral tributes at the spot.

In his speech Rai extended his sympathies to the families of the victims and said that no Mangalorean could erase the tragedy from memory.

Mahesh Pai, who was the air traffic controller at the time of the crash, and Air India officials were also present. They lit candles and paid floral tributes at the site.