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Alliance Air crash probe begins

Our Correspondent in Patna

The court of inquiry instituted to probe the July 17 Alliance Air crash near Patna airport started its investigation in Patna on Friday. However, it is feared that the delay in commencing the probe may affect the inquiry adversely.

The team headed by Air Marshal P Rajkumar visited the crash site at Gardanibagh government employees' colony and then commenced proceedings at the Bihar Flying Club situated beside the Patna airport.

Air Marshal P Rajkumar is based in Bangalore and had earlier probed the 1998 crash of a Dornier plane in Cochin. He told newspersons that he had come to collect evidence.

In this context, he reportedly expressed his resentment to state government officials over the laxity in cordoning off the accident site. Though, officially, the area is sealed, movement of people in and around the site had been reported.

The other members of the probe team include Captain N S Mehta, S A Deshmukh, P Rao, P Guhaiyen and S N Trivedi.

Earlier this week, the civil aviation ministry had announced that this team would probe the air crash following the Patna high court's refusal to spare a judge for the purpose pleading acute shortage. The refusal came 21 days after the crash and it is feared that the delay may affect the inquiry.

See full coverage of the Alliance Air crash

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