Probe on into fire at Hyderabad's old airport

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh police and the three-member committee set up by the state government Wednesday continued probe into fire at Begumpet Airport, which destroyed six aircraft and a helicopter.

The CID officials led by Additional Director General T. Krishna Prasad intensified their probe by recording the statements of the eye-witnesses and the officials of Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy. The investigating team also gathered more clues from the scene.

Though short-circuit is believed to have caused the blaze on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, the CID officials said they were probing the incident from all angles.

Meanwhile, the three member committee formed by the state government Wednesday began a parallel probe into the incident. Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture) I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who is heading the panel, told reporters that they held their first meeting and visited the site.

He said the committee would submit a comprehensive report to the government. The principal secretary (home) and the assistant director of air safety in the director general of civil aviation (DGCA) office are the other members of the committee.

The massive fire at the 100-year-old hangar destroyed six trainee aircraft of the aviation academy and a helicopter owned by the government. The Augusta AW 139 helicopter was being used to fly the state chief minister.

Since 2008 when the new international airport became operational at Shamshabad on the city outskirts, the Begumpet Airport located in the heart of the city was being used for non-commercial purposes like VIP flights, flying schools and by the Indian Air Force.