Kozhikode plane crash: The incident took place amid very heavy rains in the region.
New Delhi:
Air India plane crash: At least 17 people, including the two pilots, were killed after an Air India Express plane with 190 aboard Dubai skidded off the runway and snapped in half when landing in Kozhikode in Kerala on Friday amid heavy rain.
All on board were evacuated after an operation lasting nearly three hours and at least 112 wounded were taken to hospitals in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, authorities said.
There were 174 passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew on board the aircraft.
The flight was part of the Vande Bharat program that brought Indians back from abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are the updates on the Air India plane crash:
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted: “I spoke to @PMOIndia Shri. Narendra Modi ji by phone. I informed the Prime Minister of the arrangements for relief and medical assistance. The Prime Minister Minister promised assistance from the Union government. “
Mr. Vijayan also tweeted a few support numbers.
Three additional support numbers have been added. Contact these numbers for passenger information on Air india flight AXB1344 (@DXB at Kozhikode International Airport – CCJ)
Kozhikode control room
0495 2376900
0495 2376901
0495 2376902 pic.twitter.com/BNUJ1zR3kw– Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) Aug 7, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Saddened by the plane crash in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover as soon as possible. Spoken in Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation The authorities are there, providing all assistance to those affected. “
Saddened by the plane crash in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. Let the injured recover as soon as possible. Spoken in Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation. The authorities are there, providing all assistance to those affected.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) Aug 7, 2020
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the plane overshot the runway in rainy conditions and descended 35 feet on a slope before breaking in two. An official investigation will be conducted by the Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), he said.
We are in contact with the local authorities. State police reported 11 deaths. Air India and IAA rescue teams are immediately dispatched from Delhi and Mumbai. Every effort is made to help passengers.
A formal investigation will be conducted by the AAIB.
– Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) Aug 7, 2020
- At least 17 people have been killed after an Air India Express plane with 190 on board from Dubai skidded off the runway and snapped in half while landing in Kozhikode in Kerala on Friday in the middle of heavy rains.
- Among those killed were the two pilots of Flight IX-1344.
- All on board were evacuated after an operation lasting nearly three hours and at least 112 wounded were taken to hospitals in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, authorities said.
- There were 174 passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew on board the aircraft.
- The flight was part of the Vande Bharat program that brought Indians back from abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- TV footage from the site showed part of the Boeing 737’s fuselage torn apart by debris strewn everywhere.
- The incident took place amid very heavy rains in the region at around 7.40 p.m.
- A more serious tragedy was avoided because the plane did not catch fire.
- Emergency services personnel were seen working in the dark and spraying the wreckage with water.
- According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the plane circled the airport on several occasions and made two attempts to land.
