Plane overshoots Kozhikode runway, plunges into valley, both pilots killed
Seventeen people — pilot, co-pilot and 15 passengers — were killed and several others injured when a Dubai-Calicut Air India Express flight with 191 passengers and crew on board overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport and fell into a valley, breaking into two portions, on Friday around 7.41pm, police sources said. There were 184 passengers, including 10 Infants, and five-member cabin crew when the flight approached the airport.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the flight IX 1344 operated by B737 aircraft from Dubai overshot runway at Kozhikode at 7.41 PM on Friday. “No fire reported at the time of landing,” it noted.
“As per the initial reports rescue operations are on and passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care. We will soon share the update in this regard,” the it stated.
While the aircraft broke into two, nearly 50 ambulances were seen coming out of the airport with the injured persons. Kozhikode airport is designated as a table top aircraft (airport atop a hill). Capt Deepak Sathe, the pilot of the ill-fated plane, was a wing commander in the Indian Air Force before he switched over to Air India.
“AI Exp flight overshot Kozhikode runway in rainy conditions, went down 35 ft into slope, split into 2... Formal enquiry will be conducted by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” said Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The injured include one of the cabin crew members. Sources in Kozhikode airport said at least 40 passengers have been admitted to various hospitals in and around Kozhikode. The front portion of the aircraft had to be cut open to take the body of the pilot from the cockpit.
According to information coming out of the airport, the aircraft crash landed on the runway from where it skidded off.
The first visuals shown by local TV channels were that of a totally damaged aircraft, the front side of which has been damaged totally. It was raining heavily when the aircraft touched the ground. Most of the passengers were heard crying in pain.
The flight was part of the Vande Bharat Repatriation Mission operated by the Government of India.
