An Air India Express flight carrying 191 people including 10 infants and six crew members, which was coming from Dubai, skidded off the runway while landing at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening. The plane fell into a 50 feet valley breaking into two portions while landing, police said.
Many people have been rushed to the nearby hospitals, the condition of some of them is said to be serious.
Kondotty Police said that Dubai-Kozhikode Air India flight (IX-1344) skidded during landing at Karipur airport at 7.41 pm today.
An airline spokesperson said the aircraft apparently overshot the runway.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) statement, it was raining heavily while the plane was attempting to land on the tabletop runway when it skilled off and fell into the valley. The heavy rains could likely be the reason of the devastating accident.
"Air India Express AXB1344, B737 Dubai to Calicut, person on board 191, visibility 2000 meter, heavy rain, after landing Runway 10, continue running to the end of the runway and fall down in the valley and broke down in two pieces," read the DGCA statement. The DGCA has also ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the phone about the crash. "CM informed PM that a team of officials including Kozhikode & Malappuram District Collectors & IG Ashok Yadav have arrived at the airport & participating in the rescue operation," Kerala CMO told ANI.
NDRF DG SN Pradhan said that some passengers have been injuried while some are unconscious. "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," he said.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
