Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], Aug 7 (ANI): Seventeen passengers died and 123 were injured, including 15 seriously, when a plane coming from Dubai met with an accident at Karipur airport in Kozhikode, Malappuram Superintendent of Police (SP) said on Friday.
Air India Express Dubai- Kozhikode IX-1344 flight, carrying 190 people on board from Dubai under the Vande Bharat Mission, skidded off the runway at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening.
The accident took place at 7:41 pm today.
India’s aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said no fire was reported at the time of landing.
NDRF teams are being rushed to Karipur Airport for rescue work, NDRF Director General SN Pradhan said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the phone about the accident and promised all required assistance from the Centre.
The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that a team of officials including Kozhikode and Malappuram district collectors and Inspector General Ashok Yadav reached the airport and were involved in the rescue operation, a CMO release said.
While the two pilots are among the deceased, the four-cabin crew members on board the aircraft are safe.
“Air India Express Limited regrets to confirm that its flight IX-1344 from DXB (Dubai International Airport) to CCJ (Kozhikode International Airport) was involved in an accident on August 7, 2020 at Calicut. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the passengers and crew and their families. We would like to inform that as of now there are 17 confirmed deceased including two pilots. The four-cabin crew members are confirmed safe,” the air carrier said in the statement.
Emergency Response team members, as well as Special Assistance Team members, have been pressed into service from Cochin, Mumbai and Delhi to render all possible assistance to the passengers as well as to the family members, it added.
Moreover, the Air India Express has arranged a “special relief flight from Mumbai and Delhi” for rendering humanitarian assistance to all the passengers and their family members.
It has also established a passenger information centre and a toll-free number has been made available for the family or friends of those who may have been on board flight IX-1344. “The toll free number is 1800 2222 71. For those calling from outside, please call international country code,” it added.
Plane skidded off tabletop runway, fell into dug up sort of place, says NDRF head
The Air India Express plane coming from Dubai skidded off the tabletop runway at the Karipur airport and fell into a dug up sort of place, said SN Pradhan, Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Friday.
Pradhan told ANI, “The Air India Express flight which was coming from Dubai and was landing in the Calicut airport at around 7.40 pm to 7.45 pm, seems to have skidded off the runway and we must remember that it is a tabletop runway. So it seems to have crossed that runway and fallen into a dug up sort of place. There is a difference between the runway and the other part of the airport. And because of the impact, the fuselage broke into two and the front portion was badly damaged.”
“All the passengers sustained injuries and some are unconscious. An NDRF team has been rushed to the spot and should be reaching any time there to join the search and rescue operation,” he said.
MEA issues helpline numbers, says ‘deeply saddened by tragedy’
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued four helpline numbers for the families of those who travelled in Air India Express flight number IX-1344 which met with an accident at Kozhikode in Kerala on Friday.
The MEA expressed grief over the tragedy and said that full details of the injured and casualties are awaited.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Express Flight No IX 1344 at Kozhikode. MEA helplines are open 24×7: 1800 118 797, +91 11 23012113, +91 11 23014104, + 91 11 23017905. Fax: +91 11 23018158,” Anurag Srivastava, official spokesperson of the MEA said in a tweet on Friday.
“Air India Express has also established helpline number in Sharjah at 00971 6 5970303. People can call them as well for updates. Full details of injured and casualties are awaited,” another tweet read.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to inquire about the Khozikode plane crash and sought information on casualties.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji called to inquire about the Khozikode Air Crash. Expressed his deepest condolences on the loss of lives. He inquired about the details of the incident and sought information on casualties. Planning to visit Kozhikode tomorrow to be with the aggrieved,” Muraleedharan tweeted.
Two investigation teams to leave for Kozhikode, says Civil Aviation Minister
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri has informed that two investigation teams from Air India, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will leave for Kozhikode on Saturday to probe the plane crash in Kerala.
“Two investigation teams of professionals from @airindiain @AAI_Official and AAIB will leave for Kozhikode at 02.00 hours and 05.00 hours. Everyone has now been rescued from the aircraft. Rescue operations are now complete. Injured being treated at various city hospitals,” Puri said in a tweet.
Conveying condolences to the bereaved families, the Minister said, “As per the flight manifest there were 190 people on flight.
PM, President express grief over Air India flight accident in Kozhikode
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday expressed grief over the Air India flight accident in Kerala‘s Kozhikode.
PM Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the situation.
“Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Kerala CM regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected,” PM Modi tweeted.
President Kovind also informed that he spoke to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to inquire about the situation.
“Deeply distressed to hear about the tragic plane crash of Air India Express flight at Kozhikode, Kerala. Spoke to @KeralaGovernor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan and inquired about the situation. Thoughts and prayers with affected passengers, crew members and their families,” his tweet read.
Before crash-landing, AI Express pilot aborted two landings due to tailwind: Official
Air India (AI) Express pilots, who have died in Kerala plane crash tragedy, attempted two landings before the final landing at the tabletop runway at Kozhikode on Friday evening. Two landings were aborted by pilots due to tailwind.
“According to weather radar, approach was for runway 28 but as pilots found difficulties they went around twice and came from the opposite side on runway 10 and the plane crash-landed at Kerala’s Kozhikode airport,” a senior investigator from DGCA told ANI.
‘Tragic, painful moment’: Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal condole deaths in Kerala plane mishap
Congress General Secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal have expressed grief and conveyed condolences to the people, who died in the plane crash tragedy at Kozhikode in Kerala.
“My heart goes out to the crew and passengers of the Air India plane that has crashed in Calicut and to their families. Our prayers are with you at this tragic and painful moment,” tweeted Priyanka Gandhi.
Expressing shock at the plane accident, Venugopal said, “The flight accident at Karipur is a shocking incident. The governments (state and Centre) must take all necessary measures for emergency rescue and help.”
“I have already requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to order an immediate enquiry to find out the exact reasons behind the shocking accident. Emergency medical care and assistance should be ensured for the injured and financial assistance should be declared for the deceased,” Venugopal said.
