Mangalore crash survivor walks away from AI wreckage unscathed

[email protected] (News Network : TOI)
May 23, 2010
 

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MANGALORE: On Saturday, Mayan Kutty, was heralded as the chosen one. A man who walked away from the fiery wreckage which claimed 158 lives with barely a scratch on him. Over 24 hours later, one realizes that while the scars are not visible, they are indeed deeply etched on his psyche.
 
Kutty's been so traumatised and fearful of flying again that he doesn't ever want to board a plane. At the moment, he has no desire to go back to his job in Sharjah where he works as a salesman. "I'll settle down in my native place in Kannur," he said.

He has another interesting tale to narrate. When he walked away from the wreckage with his passport intact, he was robbed of his cellphone in the hospital when some ministers came to see him. "Someone who came with the ministers stole my mobile," he says ruefully. Of the survivors, he's likely to be out of the hospital first.

Abdulla Puthur Ismail, who was ejected from the plane when it broke into two and lived to tell his tale, has a contrasting outlook. Though he is equally shocked by the tragic incident, he intends to go back to work in Dubai as his livelihood is there. "If I had to die, I would have died on Saturday. If I don't go back to Dubai, I'll starve," he says.

There's a twist in this story too. Abdulla was admitted after the crash to the same hospital which had been booked by his brother for him for routine treatment for a nerve ailment.

Sabrina Huq, a medical student and resident of Dhaka, has injuries on her legs and hands. Shocked as she is by the incident which she thought only ever happened in the movies, she says she was saved because God must have some special task for her in life. She is doing her internship in a college here and intends to complete it.

Joel Prathap DSouza's in a private hospital with some stress to his spinal cord. He's being put through tests to ensure that all's well before he's discharged. Joel went to Dubai on a visitor's visa, got a job and came back to change it into an employment visa.

Another survivor Pradeep G K took the flight to attend his brother's wedding on May 27. He too said he wishes to return to Dubai to earn his bread and butter. Krishnan Kollikunnu hasn't yet figured what to do next

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News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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