India - 84 killed in a plane crash near Aurangabad

[S.Ramani]

* Indian Airline IC 491 crashes near Aurangabad - 84 killed

Country - India
Source - Press Trust of India
Sent by - S. Ramani
Date - 26th April 1993

Aurangabad, april 26 (pti) eightyfour passengers were
killed and many injured when an indian airlines boeing 737
delhi-jaipur-udaipur-aurangabad-bombay flight (ic-491) with
112 passengers and six crew members on board crashed seven kms
from aurangabad soon after take-off from the chikalthana
airport at 1300 hours today.
the passengers who were sitting near the front portion
of the plane managed to survive, while most of the casualties
were from those who were seated on the middle and rear
portions. captain s n singh was among the survivors.

according to eyewitnesses, the plane, which dashed
against a stationary truck while take off, maintained its
flight for a few kilometers and then began losing its
altitude. it hit a high tension wire and caught fire at its
rear portion.
the plane skidded for a few kilometers on its belly and
burst into flames before breaking into three pieces.
the injured were admitted to government medical college
hospital.
one of the airhostesses opened the front door and some
passengers managed to jump out of the aircraft.
soon the entire area was cordoned off by the police who
alongwith fire brigade personnel started extricating bodies
trapped under smouldering wreakage of the plane. many of the
passengers were charred beyond recognition, police said.
24 passengers boarded the flight at jaipur, 37 from
udaipur and 51 from aurangabad.

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