KERALA: Air India Express flight IX 1344 – that originated from Dubai – overshot the tabletop* runway during the ongoing monsoon rain at the Kozhikode airport here today at 8.15pm, its fuselage split into two as it fell into a valley thirty feet below.
Eighteen people travelling in the crashed jet (including both pilots) lost their lives, 123 got injured (15 gravely). Passengers were evacuated as the plane did not catch fire.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the air crash: “Saddened to learn of the Air India plane crash in Kerala state leading to loss of innocent lives. May Allah give strength to the bereaved families in their difficult hour.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1291785039433195520
According to details the Air India’s Boeing-737 was harboring 191 passengers (including 2 pilots and five cabin crew members). Two out of 10 infants on board also deceased. It is pertinent to mention here that the unfortunate Air India Express was one of the dozens of flights that are being operated by the GoI in order to bring Indians, mostly those who lost jobs due to Virus-Crisis, back home.
PS:
*It may be noted that airports like Kozhikode are called Tabletop: The runway is situated on the top of a plateau or hill with one or both ends adjacent to a steep elevation, which drops into a gorge.
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