Mangalore Air Crash: Air India settles 89 cases, Rs 66.92 cr disbursed

[email protected] (Stanley Pinto for Times of India )

December 15, 2011

Mangalore, December 15: Nineteen months after the horrific crash of Air India Boeing IX 812, which resulted in the death of 158 passengers, the legal counsel for Air India - Mulla & Mulla - Mumbai, has settled 89 cases, seven of them partially, as on date.

Kapil Aseri, chief finance officer, Air India, said a total of 82 cases have been settled on full and final basis and seven in part for an overall amount of Rs 66.92 crore, including the survivors. In the last three days, 11 claims were settled.

Advocate and solicitor Hoshang D Nanavati from Mulla & Mulla, told TOI the compensation claim process will commence after the Supreme Court proceedings in the first week of January next year. Abdul Salaam, father Mohammed Rafi (24) who perished in the crash, has approached the Apex court after a division bench of the Kerala High Court in August this year, allowed Air India's appeal and the set aside the order of the single judge holding that a minimum of one lakh Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) would be payable in respect of the death of each passenger.

Regarding the status of victims' families who have engaged the services of Swedish law firm, Nanavati said: ``It is not professional to deal with the cases until and unless they (foreign law firm) cease to act in the matter. It is for the claimant to decide. When we are satisfied (with proof) that they have withdrawn, we will commence claim settlement process. A mere affidavit from claimant will not do.''

Barring the families who have approached the foreign firm, there are about 25 families who are awaiting the Apex Court's verdict on this matter. Salaam's contention is that one lakh SDR (roughly about Rs 75 lakh at present exchange value) is the minimum. Air India Express observer R P Shahi, the former joint director general of Civil Aviation, said that the feedback from the families was they were satisfied with the process.

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Udupi: Hindutva activist arrested for allegedly raping young woman while out on bail

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December 1,2025

Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

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December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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