An Air India Express aircraft skidded off the runway while landing in Kozhikode and plunged into the deep valley below. At least 16 people have reportedly died in the accident, including the pilot of the flight, D.V. Sathe. About 123 have been injured, including 15 seriously.
The incident occurred at 7.41 pm on Friday, when the flight from Dubai to Kozhikode skidded off the runway after landing at the ‘table-top’ airport.
The aircraft with 190 people onboard, including six crew members and 10 infants, battled heavy rains while landing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “pained by the plane accident.” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vjayan briefed PM Modi on rescue operations.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Air India Express AXB1344, a B737 aircraft, with 190 people onboard, landed on Runway 10 amid visibility of 2,000 metres in heavy rain, but continued running till the end of runway, fell down in the valley and broke into two pieces.
As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation, rescue operations are going on and the injured have been moved to the hospital. The flight was part of the Vande Bharat programme that has been bringing back Indians from abroad amid coronavirus pandemic. The flight from Dubai was carrying 174 passengers, 10 infants, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew.
The images from the site showed part of the fuselage of the Boeing 737 jet ripped apart with debris strewn all over. According to reports, the incident took place amid very heavy rainfall in the area. It could have been much greater tragedy if the plane had caught fire.
According to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, the aircraft circled the airport several times and made two attempts to land.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the plane overshot the runway in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet into a slope before breaking up into two pieces.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told a news channel that the Kozhikode airport is one of the Kerala’s most prominent international terminals and handles a significant number of flights from abroad.
Meanwhile, Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted “Distressed to learn about the tragic accident of Air India Express aircraft in Kozhikode, Kerala. Have instructed NDRF to reach the site at the earliest and assist with the rescue operations.”
Officials told newsmen that Kerala has been affected by heavy rainfall through the day that triggered landslides and left at least 15 people dead. According to report, most people on board the plane have been evacuated, with at least 35 of them taken to hospital with injuries.
Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan said that police and fire personnel ha e been directed to take all measures for rescue and relief operations. Expressing shock over the mishap, the CM deputed AC Moideen, minister for local bodies, to coordinate the rescue operations. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was shocked at the devastating new of the plane mishap in Kozhikode. He has offered deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who died in the accident and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The pilot Wing Commander Sathe, who died in the crash, was with Indian Air Force, and flew planes for Air India before he went to Air India Express flights. He had won the sword of honour at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.