Mangaluru: 15 years since Bajpe Air Crash; District administration pays homage to 158 victims

A tribute was paid on Thursday to the 158 victims of the tragic 2010 Mangaluru air crash, marking the 15th anniversary of the disaster that remains etched in the region’s memory as one of its darkest days.

The district administration, led by Zilla Panchayat CEO and Acting Deputy Commissioner Dr. Anand K., organized the memorial ceremony near the Air Crash Memorial located along Tannirbavi Road, close to the Bajpe airport where the crash occurred.

Since the tragedy took place on May 22, 2010, it has become a yearly tradition to observe a remembrance ceremony at the memorial on this date, honouring those who lost their lives in the devastating crash of Air India Express flight IX-812.

Though fifteen years have passed, the emotional wounds remain fresh for many. A moment of silence was observed at the event, offering prayers for the peace of the departed souls.

Among the 158 victims, 12 bodies were never recovered or identified. These individuals were presumed deceased, and symbolic last rites were performed in their honour at the time.

Several officials were present at the ceremony, including Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Ravichandra Nayak, Mangaluru North ACP Sreekanth K., and Deputy Director of the District Animal Husbandry Department Arun Shetty, who all paid floral tributes at the memorial.

The crash remains the worst aviation disaster in Karnataka’s history and one of the most tragic in India, serving as a constant reminder of the lives lost and the importance of aviation safety.