Air India Express carrying 177 passengers crash lands at Kozhikode airport; pilot feared dead
Initial reports say the incident took place at around 8.15 pm. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “I have instructed Police and Fire Force to take urgent action in the wake of the plane crash at the Kozhikode International airport (CCJ) in Karipur. Have also directed the officials to make necessary arrangements for rescue and medical support.”
In a statement issued, the airline said “Air India Express flight IX 1344 operated by B737 aircraft from Dubai to Calicut overshot runway at Kozhikode at 1941 hrs tonight. No fire reported at the time of landing. There are 174 passengers, 10 Infants , 2 Pilots and 5 cabin Crew on board the aircraft. As per the initial reports rescue operations are on and Passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care.”
Former Union minister KJ Alphons tweeted that the front portion of the flight, which was carrying 177 passengers, split into two and that all passengers have been evacuated.
As per eyewitness, there was smoke at the location of the crash and the aircraft seems to have split into two parts. Sources in the DGCA said “the aircraft overshot the runway, fell into a valley and broke up into two pieces. There are some survivors.”
As per local media reports, the pilot of the aircraft has died while the co-pilot is critically injured. The plane skidded from the runway into the nearby road as it landed during heavy rainfall, media reports say.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/
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