On India's request, US team rushes to Mangalore

At the request of the Indian Government, the US on Saturday rushed a team of top investigators to India to assist authorities there to probe the Mangalore plane crash.

The US team of investigators includes officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Authority, General Electricals and Boeing, a NTSB spokesman told the PTI.

"We are offering our assistance to the Indian Government at their request," the spokesman said.

The NTSB is sending three of its officials including the one from the major accident division in aviation safety.

The NTSB spokesman said it received request for help last night and the team of investigators were quickly notified about it.

"They are now being rushed to Mangalore," the official said, adding that this is not for the first time that the US' help is sought.

India and the US have a long history in assisting in investigations into plane crashes in India, he said.