At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured when an Air India Express passenger plane overshot the runway and broke into two after landing in the southern city of Calicut in heavy rain on Friday, officials said.
Shocked by the news of #AirIndia flight from Dubai to Calicut with 191 passengers crashed after skidding off the runway and going into the valley.
— Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) August 7, 2020
Visuals from the crash site are devastating. Thought with the victim and their families and prayers for the survivors. pic.twitter.com/efMFkKTM3K
The Boeing-737 flight from Dubai was flying home Indians stranded overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were 190 passengers and crew on board, the civil aviation ministry said in a statement. Among them were 10 infants.
Television footage showed rescue workers moving around the wreckage in pouring rain. The aircraft lay split into at least two chunks after he plane’s fuselage sheared apart as it fell into a valley 30 feet below, authorities said.
Media reports suggested that the plane skidded off a runway, crashing nose-first into the ground.
The Kerala state police chief said at least 15 people had been killed, with at least four passengers stuck the wreckage.
The civil aviation ministry said in a statement there was no fire on board.
Local TV news channels showed passengers, some of them lying motionless on stretchers, brought into a hospital surrounded by health workers wearing masks because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
#AirIndia Express B737 Dubai to Calicut, with 191 people - passengers & crew - amid heavy rainfall with visibility of 2000 meter ... after landing Runway 10, continue running to end of runway and fall down in the valley and broke down in two pieces #Calicut #calicutplanecrash pic.twitter.com/eGQZuMStNv
— Dhruvil Gajjar (@meggi_07) August 7, 2020
Air India Express AXB1344, was a repatriation flight operated by the government to bring Indians home during international travel restrictions due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Millions of Indians work in the Gulf.
“Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted referring to Calicut’s new name. “My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” he said.
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 @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet from his official handle expressed sorrow over the plane crash incident and prayed for the bereaved families.
"Saddened to learn of the Air India plane crash in Kerala state leading to loss of innocent lives. May Allah give strength to the bereaved families in their difficult hour."
Saddened to learn of the Air India plane crash in Kerala state leading to loss of innocent lives. May Allah give strength to the bereaved families in their difficult hour.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 7, 2020
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