Gorges Surround Mangalore's 'table top' Airport

Flying in Mangalore has always been considered difficult because the airport is on top of a hill and surrounded by deep gorges, there are only 30 meters from the runway.

The airport is Bajpe, about 20 km from Mangalore and 350 km from state capital Bangalore. The runway is called the table because of the deep gorges around.

Ironically, the new terminal opened just 15 May the Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Authority.

The Mangalore airport is considered one of the most difficult port for landing and departure, especially in the rainy season. There have been counting heavily in the area, an effect of the cyclone Laila.

It is not clear whether the Air India Express, which caught fire Saturday, landed at the old path, about 1.6 km long, or the new 2.6 km runway, which became operational in 2006.