Moily's close shave in Mangalore 30 years ago

Union Law Minister, M. Veerappa Moily, had a narrow escape at the Mangalore airport three decades ago.

At a function on May 10 this year to inaugurate the New Integrated Terminal building at the Mangalore airport, Mr. Moily recalled that fateful day on August 19, 1981, when an Avro aircraft that he was travelling in landed at the Mangalore airport with only 25 per cent of the runway left.

The pilot braked and the plane was stopped from plunging over a cliff into a 300 ft valley by three laterite rocks that were precariously positioned at the edge of the cliff. The aircraft engine caught fire, but fire engines doused the flames, and all passengers were rescued safely.