Meghani Nagar Air Crash Sparks Panic Among Residents Near Kolkata Airport, Dum Dum, and North-South 24 Parganas

BI News, Kolkata | June 13, 2025:
The recent air crash in Ahmedabad's Meghani Nagar has sent shockwaves across several localities around Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Residents of Michael Nagar, Madhyamgram, Birati, Ganganagar, New Barrackpore, Kaikhali, Chinar Park, and Rajarhat are gripped by anxiety after witnessing the horrifying visuals of the Air India Dreamliner crash that killed 242 people, including passengers, crew, and medical students residing in a college hostel.

These neighborhoods lie directly under the flight paths of aircraft taking off and landing at the Kolkata airport, where approximately 350 flights operate daily—surpassing Ahmedabad’s 288 flights per day. The roar of low-flying planes overhead is routine for locals. While the noise often disrupts sleep, Thursday's crash has triggered unprecedented fear.

"For the first time, I'm genuinely scared. What happened in Ahmedabad could easily happen here," said Ratan Paul, a resident of Michael Nagar. His sentiment is shared by many who live just meters below the frequent flight routes.

Mitali Das of New Barrackpore voiced similar concerns: "Massive aircraft fly right over our heads every day. What if one crashes here someday?"

Yet, not everyone is panicking. Some residents are trying to stay rational. “Accidents, mishaps—even death—can occur anywhere, anytime,” said Hriday Das of Birati. “People die in road accidents too. That doesn’t stop us from walking outside. Why should one plane crash stop us from flying?”

According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials, neighborhoods to the north of the main runway—such as Michael Nagar, New Barrackpore, Birati, Ganganagar, and Madhyamgram—are under regular flight paths. On the southern side, planes fly over Kaikhali, Chinar Park, Rajarhat, and New Town. The direction of flight operations changes depending on wind patterns, leading to over 150 landings and takeoffs on each side daily.

While the airport adheres to international safety standards, residents are now demanding greater assurance about risk management in densely populated flight zones.

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