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Calicut : An Air India Express plane with 191 people on board has crashed at an airport in the southern state of Kerala, officials say. No fire reported at time of landing. As per initial reports, rescue operations on and passengers being taken to hospital for medical care
The aircraft, en route from Dubai, skidded off the runway and broke in two at Calicut airport upon landing, India’s aviation authority said.
Rescue operations are under way, with emergency services at the scene.
At least two people, including the pilot, have died, the official claims. Several passengers are injured, a spokesman for the airline said.
The airline said there were 184 passengers – including 10 children and seven crew members, of which two were pilots – on board flight IX-1344 when it crashed at Calicut, also known as Kozhikode.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the plane fell into a valley and broke in two after skidding off the end of the runway.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Said, “ I have instructed Police and Fire Force to take urgent action in the wake of the plane crash at the Kozhikode International airport (CCJ) in Karipur. I have also directed the officials to make necessary arrangements for rescue and medical support.
He further said that Minister AC Moideen will lead the rescue efforts at the Kozhikode International Airport. Police and Fire Force personnel have been deployed at the crash site of the Air India Express.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on phone about Karipur plane crash. CM informed Modi that a team of officials including Kozhikode and Malappuram District Collectors and IG Ashok Yadav have arrived at the airport and participating in the rescue operation.
“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 Narendra Modi tweeted.
“Distressed to learn about the tragic accident of Air India Express aircraft in Kozhikode, Kerala. Have instructed NDRF [National Disaster Response Force] to reach the site at the earliest and assist with the rescue operations,” Amit Shah, Union Home Minister tweeted.
“Distressed to learn of this accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and their families”, Pavan Kapoor, Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) tweeted.
Help centres are being set up at Sharjah & Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
”We must remember that it is a tabletop runway at Kozhikode. There seems to have been injuries among all the passengers & some of them are unconscious. An NDRF team has been rushed to the spot & should be reaching any time there to join search &rescue operation,” said NDRF DG SN Pradhan
The incident happened at around 7.00 pm amid heavy rainfall in the region. There have been flooding and landslides, as India’s monsoon season reaches its peak.
In May 2010, 158 people died when an Air India Express flight overshot Mangalore airport runway and crashed.
