Online Reporter
The Herald 24 June 1985
AN Air India jumbo jet fell out of the sky without a mayday call and crashed into the North Atlantic off Ireland yesterday, apparently killing all 329 people on board. Airline officials said they suspected sabotage.
Police in Montreal impounded three “suspicious” pieces of luggage before Air India. Flight 182, a Boeing 747, took off from Mirabel Airport for London’s Heathrow enroute to New Delhi and Bombay.
Bomb sniffing dogs barked at the luggage, which also failed to pass electronic screening. Transport Canada spokeswoman Jacqueline Richard said. A search revealed nothing suspicious, however.
Aviation experts said the circumstances of the crash, the third worst in aviation history, made an explosion on board the most likely explanation. The Air India flight which originated in Toronto was cruising normally at 31 000 feet and was one hour, 40 minutes from Heathrow when, controllers in Shannon lost sight of it.
Minutes later two other jets nearby picked up an electronic distress signal of a type that triggers automatically when a plane hits water.
Within two hours’ ships and planes sent to the scene 195km south-west of the Irish coast had sighted wreckage and bodies. None reported any sign of survivors.
By early evening, 97 bodies had been recovered and put on ships, said US Air Force Technical Sgt. Charles Nydell, who flew over the scene on a C-130 Hercules.
Debris in chunks no bigger than 10m2, according to a British rescue helicopter pilot was strewn in an east-west oval 8km wide.
Lessons for today:
The rapid response by rescue teams highlights the importance of having well-coordinated emergency response plans. Quick action can aid in recovery efforts and provide closure to the families of victims.
The automatic distress signal that was picked up by nearby jets emphasises the importance of having reliable and advanced technology on board to aid in locating aircraft in distress.
A few days ago Air India crashed shortly after take-off. According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad’s airport, the plane gave a mayday call, signalling an emergency, but after that there was no response. It was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it came down in a residential area, crashing into a medical hostel killing some doctors on the ground.
Zimbabwe and India traditionally enjoy cordial relations hence President Mnangagwa send his condolence message to the Government and people of India.
Bongani Ndlovu