A Jinxed Plane Grounds the President
Lord Malayappa in Sri Rama Avatar on Hanuman
Episode - 6
Part - 3
Fortunately, the plane did not plunge into water or hit the huge boulders a little distance away. Had either happened, perhaps none of the 29 passengers would have survived.
As the plane hit the ground, its two engines took the impact. The undercarriage wheels remained drawn up. The crash severed the right engine block which in turn the belly of the plane and caused a hole, resulting in the two adjoining seats behind our row being shorn away. The nose, the tail and the propellers were torn away.
What came to light in the subsequent Indian Airlines inquiry was that the flight had glided and had an almost perfect landing sideways. Had the plane hit a hard surface, it would have somersaulted with its wings hitting the ground and the plane bursting into flames. The dry tank bed became soft because of the rain. As the plane glided on soft soil with the two engines taking the brunt of the impact the balance had not been lost. As it was raining, the fire in the engine caused by the friction had subsided. More significantly, the plane had stopped within 15-20 yards of high tension power lines. The side ways movement with a little backward tilt had pinned down passengers to their seats and helped them avoid injuiries. They were all wearing seat belts.
The inquiry also revealed that only the two seats in the row behind Mr.Bhattam Srirama Murthy and me had strewn away as the sheared engine block hit the belly of the plane at that spot. Fortunately, there were no passengers in those seats. Most of the other seats were occupied. Except for the pilot suffering a small concussion on his face and Mr.Bhattam's little fingers giving some pain, no one had been hurt. While the aircraft was totally damaged, the fragile seating area had remained intact. All the luggage could be retrieved without any damage.
"No movie could have depicted such a safe plane accident better", said the airlines inquiry report. "Had the plane hit the boulders in the tank, or touched the high tension power lines nearby or did somersaults, none would have survived". But it did not happen. Why? The airlines report added, "It appears as if someone by design had arranged the crash landing in the tank and averted a disaster when the 'Avro' could not withstand the adverse weather". Which Power did it? And why?
By the way, I received a call from the President. He spoke to me about the miraculous escape of all the passengers. He also quietly informed me that he did not feel like spending a fortnight atop the Hills. He might come for a day or two for 'darshan'. I did not know why he changed his mind. Strange things happen. How do they happen? Why do they happen? They are beyond our comprehension.
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
Next episode to be published on 14th Jan 2017.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
Next episode to be published on 14th Jan 2017.