History Today: How Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway and crashed in Mangalore

For the 166 passengers and crew on board Air India Express Flight 812 from Dubai to Mangalore on May 22, 2010, this was a routine journey. But this routine flight turned into one of aviation’s worst tragedies, one that shall never be forgotten.

It was also on this day in 2017 that an Ariana Grande concert at UK’s Manchester Arena became a tragedy.

As part of our ongoing _History Today_ series, we take a look back at the Air India Express crash as well as the Manchester Arena bombing which have left an indelible mark on history as well as other events that shaped the day.

Crash Of Air India Express Flight 812

On May 22, 2010, Air India Express Flight 812 took off from Dubai and was on its way to Mangalore in India. The flight departed Dubai without issue and the flight had been uneventful before initiating the descent and approach to landing at Mangalore.

In fact, the captain was asleep for over an hour, leaving the first officer to monitor the aircraft’s systems, navigation and communication with air traffic control during cruise. Later, the aircraft was cleared approach into Mangalore.

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Herein lies the problem. The Mangalore airport, situated on a hilly area, was deemed to be a ‘critical airfield’ and required the captain to land it. However, the first officer continued to fly, resulting in the plane overrunning and crashing down the hill at its far end.

Of the 166 people on board, only eight people managed to walk away from the burning wreck. It was India’s second-worst domestic airline tragedy.

As per the investigation, the captain of the flight took an unstabilised approach towards landing despite the calls of ‘go around’ by the first officer on the runway. It resulted in overshooting the runway, falling down the hillside and bursting into flames.

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Manchester Arena bombing

Around 10.30 pm on May 22, 2017, just moments after Ariana Grande finished the final song of her Dangerous Woman concert at Manchester Arena, a suicide bomber detonated an explosion on the premises, killing 22 concertgoers and injuring 116 more. Later, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for what was the deadliest act of terrorism in Britain since the 2005 London metro bombings.

Witnesses, who were present at the venue, said that the pop star had just finished her final song in the performance and walked off the stage when an explosion rung out at the arena, turning a scene of youthful fun to panic and violence as shrapnel and fire tore through the crowd pouring out of the Arena’s busiest exit.

They added that they heard an explosion and saw a flash of light. Some were knocked down by the blast, while others scrambled for safety in the chaos.

Frantic parents, family members and friends began what would be an hours-long search for their children, and those from whom they had been separated when the rush to safety began. Others took to social media with photos of their loved ones, using #manchesterarena to ask if any of them had been seen alive after the explosion. More than 240 emergency calls were made; 60 ambulances and 400 police officers helped in the search. The youngest victim was eight-year-old Lancashire native Saffie Roussos.

Investigations later revealed that 22-year-old Salman Abedi, a Manchester native of Libyan descent, had carried out the deadly attack. Evidence revealed that others, including Abedi’s brother, were aware of his plans, and may have helped to carry them out.

A public inquiry released in 2021 found that “more should have been done” by British police to stop the attack, while MI5 admitted it acted “too slowly” in dealing with Abedi.

Meanwhile, Grande, who had briefly suspended her tour, returned to the concert area 11 days later and held a benefit concert titled One Love Manchester, raising a total of £17 million towards victims of the bombing.

The Axis Powers are created

It was on this day back in 1939 that Italy and Germany agreed to a military and political alliance, giving birth formally to the Axis powers, which ultimately included Japan.

Italy’s Benito Mussolini coined the name ‘Pact of Steel’ (he also came up with the metaphor of an ‘axis’ linking Rome and Berlin) after reconsidering his first choice, ‘Pact of Blood,’ to describe this historic agreement with Germany.

Officially, the Pact of Steel obliged Germany and Italy to aid the other country militarily, economically or otherwise in the event of war, and to collaborate in wartime production. Notably, historians state that the Italian dictator had been less than keen to commit to the Pact. This was because he did not believe that Italy was ready for a major war.

It was only in September 1940, the Pact of Steel became the Tripartite Pact, with Japan making up the third constituent of the triad.

This Day, That Year

1960: The most violent earthquake in recorded history hits Chile; measuring 9.5 on the Richter Scale, it reportedly killed between 2,230 and 6,000 people.

1972: Richard Nixon arrived in Moscow, the first visit by a US president to the Soviet Union.

1980: The arcade game Pac-Man is released.