Air India plane skids during landing at Kozhikode airport, 15 dead including Pilot
New Delhi, August 08 :
At least 15 people including one pilot reported dead in the Air India Express flight crash in Kozhikode Friday evening.
Around 125 passengers rushed to nearest hospital for treatment while 15 passengers are in critical condition, sources said. The number of casualty could be much higher.
The Air India Express AXB 1344 plane carrying 191 passengers including 10 infants, which was coming from Dubai, skidded as it was raining heavily while landing at the table top Karipur Airport in Kozhikode around 7.41 PM this evening.
Air India Express said that there were six crew members on board including two pilots.
The crash was so forceful that , the plane was broken into two pieces with major damage to the fuselage. The name of the deceased pilot was Deepak Vantha Sathe.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation -DGCA ordered detailed probe into the tragedy.
The rescue operation was on and the search for the passengers in board was being carried out by the police and fire services personnel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and said that he was pained at the plane crash. He talked to the Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan and assured all help in rescue operation .
Tking to Twitter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed that he has instructed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to reach the site at the earliest and assist with the rescue operations.
“Distressed to learn about the tragic accident of Air India Express aircraft in Kozhikode, Kerala. I have instructed NDRF to reach the site at the earliest and assist with the rescue operations,” Shah tweeted.
NDRF teams are being rushed to Karipur Airport where the Dubai-Kozhikode flight skidded off the runway, for search and rescue, said NDRF Director General SN Pradhan.
Consulate General of India in Dubai has announced helpline numbers 056 546 3903, 0543090572, 0543090572, and 0543090575.
“Air India Express Flight No IX 1344 from Dubai to Calicut skidded off the runway. We will keep you updated as and when we receive further updates. Our helplines – 056 546 3903, 0543090572, 0543090572, 0543090575,” Indian Consulate in Dubai tweeted from its official Twitter account. (Odibizinfo)