KOZHIKODE: An Air India Express Flight from Dubai to Kozhikode in Kerala crashed at the Calicut International Airport — also known as the Karipur airport — while landing on Friday night. While it is unclear how many people were on board, according to reports several people have been injured in the incident. The injured have been taken to hospitals near the airport, which is in Malappuram. The incident happened around 7.40 pm on Friday. The aircraft seems to have overshot the tabletop runway and plunged 30 feet down. This resulted in the aircraft splitting with serious damage to the cockpit area. There were around 140 people on the flight including passengers and crew.
Currently, it’s raining heavily in Kozhikode. According to sources, flights are usually diverted to nearby airports if the weather is bad at the Karipur airport, since it’s a tabletop airport. However, it wasn’t done on Friday.
pilot and two passengers were killed after an Air India Express plane with more than 180 passengers on board skidded off the runway on Friday at the Karipur airport in Kozhikode in Kerala. At least 24 ambulances and fire tenders have been rushed to the airport.
According to officials of the Kerala Police, at least 35 people have been reported injured and shifted to various hospitals. “We are still searching for around 100 people,” said officials who said that shortage of torches and incessant rain were causing the rescue process to halt. India’s top aviation body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter.
The Dubai-Kozhokode flight X1344, a Boeing 737, had 184 passengers on board and landed at 7:41pm at the airport. According to airlines sources, it appeared to have overshot the runway.
“The Air India flight (IX-1344) from Dubai carrying 174 passengers skidded during landing at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode (Kerala) today. There were six crew members onboard, including two pilots,” Air India Express said in a statement. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he has instructed the police and fire Force to take urgent action. “Have also directed the officials to make necessary arrangements for rescue and medical support,” he added in a tweet.
Passengers’ list and their age: