An Air India Express flight carrying an estimated 191 passengers from Dubai crash-landed in Kerala, amid heavy rainfall, with at least 14 people reportedly dead and several others injured.
The Air India Express flight AXB1344, B737 from Dubai to Calicut was part of the Vande Bharat Mission, meant to bring home stranded people from other countries amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rajiv Jain, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Ministry, said the plane broke into two pieces on impact.
He said that no fire was reported at the time of landing.
“There are 174 passengers, 10 infants, 2 pilots & 5 cabin crew onboard the aircraft. As per initial reports, rescue operations are on & passengers are being taken to hospital,” he said.
“Dubai-Kozhikode Air India flight (IX-1344) skidded during landing at Karipur Airport at around 7.45 pm today,” Kondotty Police told news agency ANI. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter.
The plane carrying 191 people skidded off the runway while landing, breaking in two. Dozens are wounded. Rescue workers are working in the dark but “rains are making it difficult.” Rain is making rescue operations difficult
BREAKING: An Air India Express flight carrying an estimated 191 passengers from Dubai has crash-landed in Kerala, amid heavy rainfall.
Shocked at the news of #AirIndia plane crash in #Kozhikode
Pray for 191 Passengers ????#AirIndiaExpress pic.twitter.com/zWJgOHsJMg
— Vinay Kumar Shukla (@vinayshukla212) August 7, 2020