Air India Express Flight IX 1344 from Dubai to Kozhikode was overshot the runway while landing around 7:40 pm.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: An Air India Express plane with 191 people on board from Dubai skidded off the runway while landing at Kerala’s Kozhikode on Friday.
One of the pliots of Flight IX 1344 has died while many passengers are feared injured, BJP MP KJ Alphons said.
There were 174 passengers, 10 Infants, two pilots and five cabin crew members on board the aircraft.
The flight was part of the Vande Bharat programme that has been bringing back Indians from abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.
All on board have been evacuated and the injured taken to hospital, authorities said.
Early images from the site showed the aircraft broken in two pieces with debris strewn all over.
The incident took place amid very heavy rainfall in the area around 7:40 pm.
Air India Express has only Boeing 737 planes in its fleet.
The Kozhikode airport is one of Kerala’s most prominent international terminals and handles a significant number of flights from abroad, Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor told NDTV.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah 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.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted:
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. Have also directed the officials to make necessary arrangements for rescue and medical support.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) August 7, 2020
Kerala has been hammered by heavy rainfall through the day that triggered landslides and left at least 15 people dead.
Around 50 others are still feared trapped in debris after
a landslide in the hilly Idukki district early Friday.
