At least 17 people have died after a plane carrying nearly 200 passengers skidded off the runway at an airport in India.
The Air India flight reportedly slid off the runway at an airport in the southern city of Kozhikode on Friday at 7:41 p.m. local time, according to India’s CNN-News18. The flight, which was returning from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, had 184 people on board. Seventeen people, including the pilot, are reported dead, and authorities said at least 123 people were injured, including 15 in serious condition.
Roughly two dozen ambulances and firetrucks responded to the scene of the crash. More than 100 additional ambulances have been dispatched to the crash site. Officials said they are still searching for about 100 people, and rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rainfall.
“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. “As per the initial reports, rescue operations are on, and passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care.”
“The aircraft didn’t land properly. It was raining heavily. It then skid off the runway and fell into a 35-foot valley. Two dead is what we know as per initial reports, but the rescue operation is on,” Arun Kumar, the leader of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said. “We are ascertaining the situation.”
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences for those killed in a post on Twitter.
“Devastating news from Kozhikode, Kerala. I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to an accident carrying several passengers on Air India flight. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Singh said.
Photos and videos on social media showed the plane’s fuselage split in half with first responders present.
Watch | Rescue operations underway as Air India Express flight from Dubai with 184 passengers overshoots runway during #Kerala landing pic.twitter.com/G6h6weg9JF
— NDTV (@ndtv) August 7, 2020
#WATCH Kerala: Dubai-Kozhikode Air India flight (IX-1344) with 190 people onboard skidded during landing at Karipur Airport today. (Video source: Karipur Airport official) pic.twitter.com/aX90CYve90
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2020
We Are deeply shocked & pained by the tragic crash of the #AirIndia Express aircraft that overshot the runway in Kozhikode.
Praying for the safety of the 191 passengers and crew members.
Jai Hind
pic.twitter.com/xi573teu8D— Delhi Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalDL) August 7, 2020
