As many as 160 persons were feared dead when an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 173 on board crashed and caught fire on Saturday as it overshot the newly built runway while landing at the Mangalore airport, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. "According to my information 160 people are not alive. A few people have been shifted to hospital," Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bangalore shortly after one of the worst air crashes in India. According to preliminary information, there were 173 persons on board Flight IX-892, operated by a Boeing 737-800. This included 163 passengers, four infants and six crew members on board. The crash occurred around 6.30 AM. Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya told reporters five to six people may have survived. "The crash happened while landing and the aircraft immediately caught fire," State Home Minister V S Acharya told PTI. Police said 40 charred bodies have been recovered. The plane, which was five-year old, had partially broken up with smoke billowing from the main fuselage. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft exploded after it caught fire. Official said there was a dense fog over the airport. The Mangalore airport has been shut down for operations. According to aviation officials, the aircraft overshot the runway, hit a fence and went beyond the boundary wall of the airport. Rescue operations were in full swing. Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh condoled the loss of lives spoke to Home Minister P Chidambaram and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who briefed him on the ongoing rescue operations being carried out at the Mangalore airport.
