M A I N   N E W S

12 dead as plane crashes near Delhi
Tribune News Service & PTI

Faridabad, May 25
A single-engine air ambulance crashed on a house in Parbatiya colony here around 10.30 pm today killing at least 12 persons, including seven on board the ill-fated aircraft that was ferrying a critically ill patient from Patna.

The plane, which had taken off from Patna, crashed shortly before landing in Delhi. According to Delhi airport sources, the airplane lost control and nosedived from a height of about 8,000 feet 15 minutes before landing. There was strong gusty winds due to a dust storm at the time of the crash. Details are sketchy, but two adjacent houses bore the brunt of the impact. The plane burst into flames on crashing and the fire rapidly engulfed the two houses.

According to neighbours, at least ten persons were believed to have been inside the houses at that time. Fire tenders were busy trying to put out the fire well past midnight. While the exact cause of crash is not known immediately, a point of inquiry will find out whether the pilots had been alerted about turbulent weather conditions they were likely to encounter during the flight.

The airplane was ferrying a critically ill Hepatitis B patient Rahul Raj (20), to be taken to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi for further medical management. The airplane was arranged by Apollo Hospital.

Besides the two pilots, two doctors and two medical attendants accompanying the patient were on board the ill-fated aircraft. The plane was being piloted by Harpreeet with Manjeet Kataria as the co-pilot. Dr Arshad and Dr Rajesh were the doctors while Ratnesh Kumar and Shiril the medical attendants.

The bodies of all the victims were charred beyond recognition, according to Faridabad Police Commissioner PK Agarwal.