160 killed in Indian plane crash
At least 160 people are dead after a Boeing 737 Air India plane overshot a runway landing in the southern Indian city of Mangalore and burst into flames.
"At least 160 passengers have died in the crash," home minister of the southern state of Karnataka, VS Acharya, told reporters.
A second official also confirmed that 160 people had been killed.
Senior Mangalore police official R Ramesh said the plane, en route from Dubai to Mangalore in southern India, crashed after severely overshooting the runway.
"So far I have only heard of seven survivors. Many are feared dead," he told AFP by telephone.
The plane was carrying 163 passengers and nine crew members. Officials had said earlier 169 people were on the plane.
Television footage showed the plane, which was arriving from Dubai, apparently lying on its belly, with smoke billowing from the fuselage as rescue workers sought to douse the fire.
- AFP/Reuters
