Patna: As the country reels from the devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 242 lives today, the tragedy has reopened old wounds in Bihar — reviving memories of the horrific air disaster that struck Patna nearly 25 years ago.
On the morning of July 17, 2000, Alliance Air Flight CD-7412 — a Boeing 737-200 flying from Kolkata to Delhi via Patna and Lucknow — plummeted from the skies as it approached landing at Patna Airport. Within minutes, 55 people on board, including both pilots, four air hostesses, and 49 passengers, were dead. Another five civilians on the ground also lost their lives when the aircraft crashed into a residential area in Gardanibagh, just two to three kilometres from the runway.
The impact left the neighbourhood in chaos. Homes were reduced to rubble, thick plumes of smoke billowed from the twisted remains of the aircraft, and fire engines raced to the scene as rescue teams battled flames and panic. Among the ground victims was Mr Dutt, an official in Bihar’s finance department, who perished along with his family when the aircraft crashed into their government quarter.
For many Patna residents, the memory remains vivid. “It was a Monday morning; schools had just reopened after the summer break,” recalls a local resident who witnessed the crash. “I remember people running towards the smoke, fire brigade sirens, the horror etched on everyone’s faces.”
One child was found alive amidst the wreckage after jumping from the rooftop moments before impact — a rare survivor in a sea of devastation. Several injured passengers were rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital, though many succumbed to their injuries en route.
In September 2000, a Court of Inquiry attributed the crash to human error, specifically the failure of the cockpit crew to follow proper landing protocols. Investigators concluded that the pilots reduced the aircraft’s speed far below safe levels before landing, causing it to stall. The report ruled out any technical fault in the aircraft but noted the operational limitations of Patna’s constrained airstrip, hemmed in by densely populated areas and limited infrastructure.
The inquiry made several critical recommendations, including the development of Bihta Air Force Station as an alternative airport for Patna, an overhaul of the pilot training and quality control systems at Alliance Air, the removal of obstacles hindering the safe operation of large aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 at Patna Airport, and the strengthening of navigation and landing systems at all Indian airports in accordance with global standards.
Despite some progress, many of these recommendations are yet to be fully realised. Today’s tragedy in Ahmedabad, though hundreds of kilometres away, has reignited calls for long-term aviation safety reforms and better infrastructure in Tier-II cities like Patna.
As Bihar reflects on the pain of the past and the nation mourns the present, the urgency for safer skies grows ever louder.
