New Delhi: Seventeen years after Delhi-based ex-airhostess, Anita Dabas survived the IC-491 crash at Aurangabad, memories of the fateful day returned to haunt her as she watched the horrific images of the Mangalore crash on television on Saturday morning.
Recounting the 1993 crash, Dabas said, "The flight which included two captains and four crew members hit a high-rise truck within seconds of take-off, and a high-tension wire killed 63 people including two crew members. But 55 passengers survived."
The afternoon flight had taken off from Aurangabad on April 26, 1993. "It scattered into pieces within seconds and everybody seated in the front survived. The rear end rows faced maximum casualties. Everything happened so suddenly but I remember opening the front door to allow some passengers to rush out. I exited last, after they had made a safe exit. I felt lucky to survive but still feel the pain of losing the guests and friends on board," added Dabas, who was just 27 then.
"People were crying and looking for their relatives and survivors. I remember a flight captain was travelling as a guest on-board with his family. I spoke to him just before departure; they were all killed in the accident. One of my senior colleagues also died in the crash. These memories haunt you forever," recalled Dabas.
Before it could gain enough height, the aircraft's wheel gear hit a high-rise truck, loaded with cotton, passing on the road close to the runway. The landing gear of the aircraft broke off under the impact and the aircraft swerved to the left. Thereafter, it hit a power transmission line and crashed in the field.