This Article is From Aug 09, 2020

Both Pilots Among 18 Killed In Air India Express Plane Crash In Kerala: Updates

Kerala Plane Crash: All on board were evacuated after a nearly three-hour operation and at least 112 injured were taken to hospitals in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, authorities said.

Both Pilots Among 18 Killed In Air India Express Plane Crash In Kerala: Updates

Kozhikode Plane Crash: The incident took place amid very heavy rainfall in the area.

New Delhi:

Air India Plane Crash: At least 18 people, including both the pilots were killed after an Air India Express plane with 190 on board from Dubai skidded off the runway and broke in two while landing at Kerala's Kozhikode on Friday amid heavy rain.

All on board were evacuated after a nearly three-hour operation and at least 112 injured were taken to hospitals in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, authorities said.

There were 174 passengers, 10 Infants, two pilots and four 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.

Here are the updates on Air India Plane crash:

Aug 09, 2020 06:40 (IST)
Kerala Plane Crash: Body Of Co-Pilot Akhilesh Kumar Reaches Delhi, Airline Staff Pay Tribute
Air India Express employees in Delhi today paid tributes to co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar, who lost his life in the Kozhikode plane crash incident.
Aug 08, 2020 23:45 (IST)
Kerala plane crash: Priyanka Chopra extends condolences, prayers to families of bereaved

Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Saturday extended her prayers and offered condolences to the families of the people who died during the Kozhikode plane crash.

The Air India flight carrying 190 passengers had skidded while landing at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening.

The 38-year-old actor took to Twitter and wrote, "Strength and prayers to the families who lost their loved ones in the plane crash in #Kozhikhode, India. Praying for the recovery of those injured."
Aug 08, 2020 22:25 (IST)
Kerala Plane Crash: Co-Pilot Akhilesh Kumar Who Died In Kerala Crash Was Days Away From Becoming Father

Co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar, who died in the plane crash at Kerala's Kozhikode last night, is survived by his pregnant wife. His cousin Basudev said the delivery is expected in 10-15 days. The devastated family is trying to come to terms with their loss.
Aug 08, 2020 21:25 (IST)
Air India Express Plane crash: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praises ''fast response'' of locals and officials

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday praised the ''fast response'' of the local people and officials in being the first to reach the Air India Express crash site here to rescue passengers, braving inclement weather and COVID-19 fears, "which made all the difference."

Mr Vijayan, who is at Kozhikode to visit the injured, said in a tweet that the fast response of the local people and the officials made all the difference. 

"Yesterday, the fast response of local people and officials made all the difference. They braved bad weather and COVID fears to rescue their fellow beings. The long queues of people who wanted to donate blood was just one example," Mr Vijayan said.
Aug 08, 2020 20:56 (IST)
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh met late Captain DV Sathe's family in Nagpur
Aug 08, 2020 20:41 (IST)
5 victims of Kerala plane crash admitted to MIMS hospital now stable

Five patients, who were admitted to the Aster MIMS hospital in Kozhikode after an Air India plane crashed in Karipur Airport on Friday, are currently in a stable condition, Dr Muhammad Shafi, Head of Department of the Department, Emergency Medicine informed.

"We received a call regarding the situation around 8:30 pm and the team was alerted with a code green. A hazard assessment was made and a team consisting of one doctor and two staff members in full Personal Protective Equipment was deployed to the site. Five patients were brought to the hospital. Most of them are suspected to have traumatic brain injury. One patient suffered an abdominal injury and another patient had a head injury. The rest have limb trauma. They are in stable condition and are being kept under observation," Dr Shafi said.
Aug 08, 2020 19:57 (IST)
Airports Authority Of India Chairman Arvind Singh On Kerala's Kozhikode Plane Crash: Will Take Corrective Action After Receiving Probe Report

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Arvind Singh on Saturday said "corrective action" will be taken after receiving the probe report on the Air India Express plane crash at Kozhikode airport on Friday."
Aug 08, 2020 19:32 (IST)
Captain Deepak V Sathe's family concerned about table-top airports: Maharashtra Home Minister

The family of Captain Deepak V Sathe, pilot of the ill-fated Air India Express flight which crashed, expressed concerns about "table-top airports" in the country, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.

Captain Sathe and 17 others were killed when the plane crashed into a valley after overshooting the runway at Kozhikode airport in Kerala on Friday evening.

Mr Deshmukh met his relatives on Saturday to pay his condolences.

"The family expressed concerns about table-top airports in the country while speaking to me. They said the Civil Aviation Ministry should ensure that such incidents do not happen again," he told reporters.
Aug 08, 2020 19:01 (IST)
DGCA had issued notice to Kozhikode airport in July 2019 over critical safety lapses

Aviation regulator DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport on July 11 last year after it found "various critical safety lapses" in different places, including the runway and the apron, officials said on Saturday.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation pointed to cracks on the runway, water stagnation and excessive rubber deposits among other lapses in its show-cause notice.

The DGCA conducted the inspection after an Air India Express flight coming from Dammam in Saudi Arabia had a "tail strike" while landing at the Calicut (Kozhikode) airport on July 2 last year, an official said.
Aug 08, 2020 17:54 (IST)
Nine of 18 plane crash victims hail from Kozhikode

The passengers killed in the Air India Express crash here have been identified and as many as nine of the 18 victims were from this city, authorities said on Saturday. Malappuram district collector K Gopalakrishnan, who released details, said the victims include four children and nine people were from Kozhikode.

Rajeevan Cherakkaparambil (61), Manal Ahamed (25), Sharafudheen (35) Janaki Kunnoth (55) Assan Muhammed Chembai (1), Ramya Muraleedharan (32), Shivathmika (5) Shenobia (40) and Shahira Banu (29) hailed from Kozhikode. Muhammed Riyas VP (24) and Ayisha Duva (2) were from Palakkad. Shaheer Syed (38), Lailaabi KV (51), Shantha Marakkat (59), Sudheer Variyath (45) and Shessa Fathima (2) hailed from Malappuram.

Pilot Captain Deepak Sathey and Co-Pilot Akhilesh Kumar were the other two victims.
Aug 08, 2020 17:04 (IST)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kozhikode Medical college
Aug 08, 2020 16:45 (IST)
Will take corrective action after receiving probe report: AAI chief on Kozhikode plane crash

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Arvind Singh on Saturday said "corrective action" will be taken after receiving the probe report on the Air India Express plane crash at Kozhikode airport on Friday.

Mr Singh said rescue work is over and reasons for the crash would be known once the AAIB report comes.

"This report will tell us about all the issues... we are awaiting the inquiry report and then we will take corrective action," he told news agency PTI.
Aug 08, 2020 16:07 (IST)
Kerala government announces Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of the Air India Express flight crash victims

The Kerala government on Saturday announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of those who died when an ill-fated Air India Express flight veered off the runway while attempting to land at the Karipur international airport.  

"The state government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who have lost their lives. The medical expenses of those under treatment will be taken over by the state government," Mr Vijayan told the reporters. 

The Chief Minister also said out of the 18 who died, 14 are adults and four are children.
Aug 08, 2020 15:53 (IST)
Deeply shocked about tragic accident of Air India Express flight: Bangladesh Foreign Minister

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Momen on Saturday expressed condolence to the families of victims of the Air India Express flight that crashed at the Kozhikode airport claiming at least 18 lives on Friday.

"Deeply shocked about the tragic accident of Air India Express flight in Kozhikode, that took precious lives and injured many. I convey our deepest condolence. Our thoughts, prayers are with bereaved families," Mr Momen told External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Aug 08, 2020 15:09 (IST)
"Everyone Was Crying": Survivor Recalls Moments After Kerala Plane Crash
A survivor of the Air India Express flight crash in Kerala on Friday today recalled the anguish of fellow passengers after an accident that has killed at least 18 people. Read more

'Everyone Was Crying': Survivor Recalls Moments After Kerala Plane Crash
Aug 08, 2020 14:29 (IST)
Aug 08, 2020 14:04 (IST)
"Shaken By Deaths": How Locals Helped Rescuers After Kerala Plane Crash
The officials had practised for years for a jet overshooting the "table-top" runway at Kozhikode airport, but local resident Fazal Puthiyakath was not prepared for the "blood and death" of the real thing. Read more

'Shaken By Deaths': How Locals Helped Rescuers After Kerala Plane Crash
Aug 08, 2020 13:33 (IST)
Aviation Minister Reaches Kozhikode To Take Stock Of Relief Measures

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday that he had reached Kozhikode to take stock of the status and implementation of relief measures after the Air India Express accident a day ago.

The Union minister said he would hold consultations "with senior civil aviation officials & professionals".

"Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ill-fated aircraft have been retrieved. AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) is conducting investigations," Mr Puri tweeted.

At 7.40 pm on Friday, an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people on board overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport in Kerala in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet into a slope before breaking up into two, killing at least 18 people.
Aug 08, 2020 13:16 (IST)
BSP Chief Mayawati Pays Tribute To Air India Pilots Who Lost Their Lives In Kerala Plane Crash

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday saluted the Air India pilots who lost their lives in the Kerala plane crash on Friday evening.

"Salute to the unmatched efficiency, prudence and bravery of the Air India pilots who lost their lives yesterday in Kerala while saving the lives of the 190 passengers aboard. I appeal to the Central and State Governments to give full respect to them for their sacrifice," said Mayawati in a Hindi tweet .
Aug 08, 2020 12:27 (IST)
US, Australia And Japan Envoys Express Grief Over Air India Express Plane Crash

Envoys from the US, Australia and Japan said they are deeply saddened to hear about the Air India Express accident in Kerala's Kozhikode and conveyed their thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.

An Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 passengers on board overshot the tabletop runway at Kozhikode airport on Friday night while landing in heavy rains and fell into a valley 35 feet below, killing at least 18 people.

US envoy Ken Juster said the US mission is deeply saddened to hear the news of the accident.
"On behalf of the U.S. Mission, we are deeply saddened by the news of the Air India accident in Kozhikode. The victims and their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers," he tweeted.

Satoshi Suzuki, Japan's ambassador to India, hoped that search and rescue would conclude as quickly as possible.

"My heart bleeds for the air accident of #AirIndiaExpress in Kozhikode and landslide in #Idukki. My thoughts are with those who lost their beloved ones and are injured. I hope search & rescue will conclude as quickly as possible," he said. Australian envoy Barry O'Farrell said his thoughts and prayers are with families of the victims.

"Deeply saddened by the news of the Air India Express Plane accident in #Kozhikode. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. @airindiain #KozhikodePlaneCrash," O'Farrell said in a tweet.

Aug 08, 2020 12:26 (IST)
First To See Air India Express Crash-Landing, They Were First Responders
When the Air India Express plane fell off the runway and broke into pieces on Friday evening at the Kozhikode airport in Kerala, the first to see the crash were the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel manning the airport boundary. Read more

Aug 08, 2020 11:51 (IST)
Aug 08, 2020 11:26 (IST)
Kozhikode Flight Crash: Four Cabin Crew Members Safe, Says Airlines

Four cabin crew members of the Air India Express flight that crash landed at the Karipur
airport are safe, the national transporter said on Saturday.

"The four cabin crew members are confirmed safe," Air India Express said in a bulletin.

Air India Express Employees Union said cabin crew suffered some injuries and are under treatment at the Kozhikode hospital.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, Raghavan, MP Kozhikode, visited the incident site at Calicut Airport along with CMD and officials of Air India and  Airports Authority of India.
Aug 08, 2020 10:56 (IST)
V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, Raghavan, MP Kozhikode, visited the incident site at Calicut Airport along with CMD and officials of Air India and  Airports Authority of India.
Aug 08, 2020 10:46 (IST)
Kerala Place Crash: DGCA, Civil Aviation Ministry, Airports Authority Officials To Hold Meeting In Delhi

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DG), Civil Aviation Ministry senior officials, Airports Authority of India, and Air Navigation Service members will meet in Delhi on Saturday over the crash-landing of an Air India Express flight in Kozhikode on Friday.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan.

"We have started our investigation, Aircraft Accident Investigation BureAU (AAIB) team has reached the crash site," said DGCA.

Aug 08, 2020 10:46 (IST)
JustIn| Black box recovered from crashed Air India Express aircraft in Kerala's Kozhikode airport
Aug 08, 2020 10:45 (IST)
Update| All those who were involved in rescue operations at Kozhikode Airport should go into self-quarantine. State Government to conduct COVID- 19 tests of all: KK Shailaja, Kerala Health Minister 

Aug 08, 2020 10:25 (IST)
Aug 08, 2020 10:02 (IST)
Wreckage of Air India Express flight that crash-landed at Kozhikode International Airport in Karipur yesterday.

Image preview
Aug 08, 2020 09:41 (IST)
Kerala Plane Crash: Governor, Chief Minister To Visit Crash Site

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will visit Karipur on Saturday, where an Air India Express flight crash-landed on Friday in which 18 people, including two pilots, were killed and 127 people were injured.

"Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and informed him about the arrangements made for rescue and medical support. The Prime Minister has promised the assistance of the Union Government," Chief Minister's Office (CMO) Kerala said in a tweet on Friday.

Kerala Raj Bhavan informed that Governor Khan has already talked to Chief Minister and Kerala Police chief about rescue and relief operations at Karipur airport.
Aug 08, 2020 09:16 (IST)
Kozhikode Plane Crash: Air India Express Says 3 Relief Flights Arranged

Air India Express said on Saturday that three relief flights had been arranged to Kozhikode in Kerala to assist passengers and their family members affected by the plane crash a day ago.

It stated that Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal, and Air India Express Chief Executive Officer K Shyam Sundar had already reached Kozhikode.

The Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 on board overshot the tabletop runway at Kozhikode airport on Friday night while landing in heavy rains and fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into two, killing at least 18 people.

Aug 08, 2020 08:46 (IST)
Indian Consulate In Dubai To Remain Open To Share Info Related To Air India Plane Crash

The Indian Consulate in Dubai will remain open on Saturday to help those who need assistance to travel to Kerala and provide information about the crash of the Air India Express flight that skidded off a hilltop runway and broke in two while landing in heavy rain at an airport in Kozhikode, killing at least 18 people.

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport at 7.41 PM on Friday. There were 184 passengers including 10 infants, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew on board the aircraft, the ministry added.
Aug 08, 2020 08:27 (IST)
Update| 18 people, including both pilots, dead in Air India Express crash in Kerala, says Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Aug 08, 2020 08:16 (IST)
Flight Tracker Site Indicates Plane Tried To Land Twice At Kerala Airport

Flight Tracker Site Indicates Plane Tried To Land Twice At Kerala Airport

A popular global flight tracker website indicates that the Air India Express plane that skidded on the runway at Kerala's Kozhikode tried to land at least twice at the tabletop airport.

Flightradar24, a Swedish firm that shows real-time commercial flight tracking information on a map, indicated that the Boeing 737 NG that came from Dubai with 190 people on board tried to land twice.

Kozhikode airport is a "tabletop" airport, junior External Affairs Minister V Muraleedharan tweeted. A tabletop runway is a runway on the top of a plateau or hill with one or both ends adjacent to a steep elevation, which drops into a gorge. Such an airport presents a challenging condition for landing.

Aug 08, 2020 07:55 (IST)
Why Landings Are Risky On Kozhikode's Tabletop Runway, Next To Gorges
Shortly after an Air India Express plane from Dubai with 190 on board skidded off the runway in Kerala's Kozhikode and broke into pieces, a top expert said he had feared a disaster on the tabletop runway that is surrounded by deep gorges. Seventeen people, including both the pilots, have died. Read more

Why Landings Are Risky On Kozhikode's Tabletop Runway, Next To Gorges
Aug 08, 2020 07:54 (IST)
Captain Who Died In Kerala Plane Crash Was Decorated Ex-Air Force Pilot
The pilots of the Air India Express plane that skidded off the runway and broke into two at Kerala's Kozhikode were among the 17 who lost their lives on Friday evening. They were Wing Commander Deepak Vasant Sathe and Captain Akhilesh Kumar. Read more

Aug 08, 2020 07:49 (IST)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted "Spoke to @PMOIndia Shri. Narendra Modi ji over phone. Have informed the Prime Minister about the arrangements made for rescue and medical support. The Prime Minister has promised the assistance of the Union Government."

Mr Vijayan also tweeted some helpline numbers.
Aug 08, 2020 07:46 (IST)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "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."
Aug 08, 2020 07:40 (IST)
Civil Aviation Minster Hardeep Singh Puri said the plane overshot the runway in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet into a slope before breaking up into two pieces. A formal inquiry will be conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), he said.
Aug 08, 2020 07:39 (IST)
  • At least 17 people were killed after an Air India Express plane with 190 on board from Dubai skidded off the runway and broke in two while landing at Kerala's Kozhikode on Friday amid heavy rain. 
  • Among those killed were the two pilots of Flight IX-1344.
  • All on board were evacuated after a nearly three-hour operation and at least 112 injured were taken to hospitals in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, authorities said.
  • There were 174 passengers, 10 Infants, two pilots and four 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.
  • Television images from the site showed part of the fuselage of the Boeing 737 jet ripped apart with debris strewn all over.
  • The incident took place amid very heavy rainfall in the area around 7:40 pm. 
  • A greater tragedy was averted as the plane did not catch fire. 
  • Emergency services personnel were seen working in the dark and spraying the wreckage with water.
  • According to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, the aircraft circled the airport several times and made two attempts to land.
.