INDIA: INDIAN AIR FORCE TRANSPORT PLANE CRASHES

Описание: (7 Mar 1999) Hindi/Nat

An Indian air force transport plane has crashed into a civilian area near New Delhi airport, killing at least 23 people, including six on the ground.

The Russian-built AN-32 aircraft suddenly veered as it approached landing on Sunday, clipped a brick boundary wall and vaulted into a concrete water tank near a group of huts.

The plane was left embedded in the water tank, with only its tail sticking out, while several small houses with thatched roofs caught fire and were destroyed.

The Indian air force transport plane came down in a civilian area near New Delhi airport on Sunday.

At least 23 people were killed, including six on the ground.

According to an A-P-T-N reporter, the Russian-built AN-32 aircraft suddenly veered off its landing path and crashed into a concrete water tank near some huts and small houses.

Several small houses with thatched roofs caught fire and were destroyed.

Seventeen people on board the plane and six civilians on the ground were confirmed dead, said Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, the highest elected official of the state of New Delhi.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, but Air Marshall Denzil Keeler said the airport was suddenly enveloped in thick fog that reduced visibility to nearly zero, and the aircraft apparently undershot the runway.

This woman lost her little boy, who was playing in the area at the time of the crash.

SOUNDBITE: (Hindi)
\"There was a big noise and I rushed here, and when I reached here I saw fire all over. When I arrived here from my work I asked people what had happened and they told me there had been a plane crash. I don't know how it came down but I saw it here.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Bhoolmani, Mother of victim

The plane was arriving from Gwalior in central India when it crashed about one and a-half miles from the airport, Press Trust of India reported.

The Press Trust said the plane was cleared for landing when it suddenly disappeared from the radar screen, crashed and caught fire.

The plane was left embedded in the water tank, with only its tail sticking out after it clipped a brick boundary wall as it neared the ground.

An eyewitness described what he saw.

SOUNDBITE: (Hindi)
\"I had come here for my morning walk and at about eight o'clock there was a plane making a noise like a broken down car. Within a few seconds it crashed into the drain. The wheels hit the drain and after that it hit the electric wires and went into the water tank. There was fire all over as if it was a bomb blast.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Ram Prashad, Eyewitness

Rescuers are searching for the flight data recorder.

The airport, which handles international, domestic and military flights, has been closed to all traffic.

It is the second air accident in three days in India.

On Friday, an Air France cargo plane crash landed in the southern city of Madras.

The plane was burned to a skeleton, but only one of the five-member crew was injured.

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