Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 3:46PM

The Times of India, relying on its sources at Air India, reported not long ago that teams of crash analysts and rescue workers have located the flight data recorders and the cockpit voice recorder from the Boeing 737-800 that overshot a runway at Mangalore International Airport (IATA: IXE; ICAO: VOML). The passenger plane then tumbled down a steep hill and caught fire, killing 158 and leaving only eight survivors Saturday morning local time (Friday evening EDT). Weather during the landing attempt was rainy and foggy.

Moreover, speculation from the Christian Science Monitor suggests that the unusual location of Mangalore International Airport near the cliff over which the Boeing 737 tumbled, might be partially to blame. It posits a false dichotomy to ask "Pilot error or dangerous Mangalore airport?" but the link to that publication's article is below in any case.

The plane, operating as Air India Express 812, originated at Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB; ICAO: OMDB), and was headed for Mangalore. The pilot was in contact with air traffic control up until moments before the crash, and as yet there is no serious suggestion of terrorism.

related story

A Boeing 737 crashes near Mangalore killing about 170 (May 22, 2010)

original stories

Black Box recovered from crash site in Mangalore: AI sources (Times of India)

Air India crash: Pilot error or dangerous Mangalore airport? (Christian Science Monitor)