An Air India Express plane crashed in the South Indian state of Kerala after skidding off the runway and breaking into two while landing at Kozhikode Calicut International Airport. The Boeing 737 aircraft, which had 10 infants on board, was coming in from Dubai when it overshot the runway and split into two.
According to CV Anand, the Central Industrial Security Force’s Inspector General, at least 17 people died in the crash, including both pilots and 46 people are seriously injured. The plane which flew from Dubai to Calicut in the state of Kerala in southern India was a repatriation flight operated by the government to bring Indians home during international travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The airline reports there was no fire reported on the Boeing 737 aircraft and that rescue operations are ongoing, with some injured people being taken to hospital.
“There are 174 passengers, 10 infants, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew on board the aircraft,” the statement read, adding that “no fire was reported at the time of landing.” The airline added that the flight’s four crew members were “confirmed safe.”
Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri disclosed a formal investigation into the crash will be conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“The flight, number IX-1344, overshot the runway in rainy conditions, went down 35-feet into a slope before breaking up into two pieces.”
Singh Puri
He later wrote on Twitter that “two investigation teams of professionals” from Air India, Airports Authority of India and AAIB will “leave for Kozhikode” early on Saturday.
Government official Amitabh Kant said the runway is on a hilltop with deep gorges on either side, making it difficult to land.
“The incident happened because of heavy rains and poor visibility. This is truly devastating,” he said with Rajiv Jain, a spokesman for the civil aviation ministry confirming the plane broke into two pieces on impact.
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also called on police and fire officials “to take urgent action” following news of the crash. He added later in a tweet, “I have also directed the officials to make necessary arrangements for rescue and medical support,”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar sent their condolences to the families of the victims on Twitter.
“Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
Dr. Jaishankar added “Deeply distressed to hear about the Air India Express tragedy at Kozhikode. Prayers are with the bereaved families and those injured. We are ascertaining further details”.
The crash comes more than a decade after an Air India plane overshot a runway in the southern Indian city of Mangalore, crashed into a ravine and burst into flames, killing 158 people. Air India Express is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India which operates 25 Boeing 737-800 NG aircrafts, according to its website.
