The shriek of a Disasterous Year: Air India Express Plane skid on the runway of the Kozhikode airport, Kerala with 190 people on board!!!
Every year arrives with hope in people’s mind that this would be a life turning point, this year will bring a new light of positivity and what not. But this year intended to make the world go upside down. Yesterday, another page was added to the book of 2020’s global misery.
With 190 people on board which included 184 passengers (10 of them were infants), 2 pilots, and 4 cabin crew members, the Air India Express Plane skid on the runway of the Kozhikode Airport located in Kerala. As per the initial reports only 2 people died which included one of the pilots. But later it was reported that 15 people were killed in the miserable incident. It was further reported that the dead were taken to the Kandotti Hospital and the injured were hospitalized in multiple hospitals. The Plane has split into 2 halves.
The flight, IX-1344 took off from Dubai to land on Kozhikode empowering the Vande Bharat Mission. The Kondotty Police said that the plane skidded during the landing around 7.45 PM at Karipur Airport. the Indian embassy in Dubai has tweeted~ informing about the misery and provided helpline numbers as well.
Air India Express (Dubai) helpline number: 00971 4 207 9444.
— India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) August 7, 2020
MEA's 24X7 helplines: 1800 118 797, +91 11 23012113, +91 11 23014104, +91 11 23017905, Fax: +91 11 23018158, Email: [email protected]@MEAIndia @cgidubai
Air India Control Room (Kozhikode) – 0091 483 2710189.
Helpline (Kozhikode) – 0091 495 2376901.
Malappuram Collectorate : 0091 483 2736320.
Kozhikode Collectorate : 0091 495 2376901@MEAIndia @AmbKapoor @cgidubai @FlyWithIX @airindiain— India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) August 7, 2020
What actually happened? The flight was flying the Cente’s of the Indian homecoming mission named the Vande Bharat Mission. The flight from Dubai was scheduled to land at the Kozhikode International Airport also referred to as Karipur Airport is a tabletop airport. The plane fell around thirty-five feet down resulting damage on the front half of the plane but people seated in the rear half have survived the misery. “A Dubai-Kozhikode Air India Express flight fell down into the valley after landing at Runway 10 of Karipur Airport and broke in 2 pieces. There were 191 people on board. Visibility was 2000 meter and heavy rain at the time of landing,” said the DCGA i.e. Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The DCGA has also ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter.
ASI of Central Security Force, Mr. Ajeet Singh witnessed the plane crash and narrated the incident. He was on duty and reached one of the emergency gates when the incident took place. After a while, he saw that the Air India Express flight was falling down towards the parameter road. He immediately called at the control room, but till then the flight was already off to the misery. All the concerned security providers assembled there to help, and they opened gate no. 8 of the airport. 25-30 volunteers came in to help the needy, a JCB also arrived to clear the damaged area and rescue those who were crushed beneath it. He was helping the passengers and got them to the ambulance which entered from gate no. 8.
#WATCH Central Industrial Security Force's ASI Ajeet Singh, an eye witness to #KozhikodePlaneCrash, narrates the incident.
Says, "I saw the Air India Express flight falling down towards the parameter road." pic.twitter.com/kKdQYujrl4— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2020
SN Pradhan who is the Director-General of NDRF i.e. National Disaster Response Force said that “Teams of NDRF are being rushed to Karipur Airport where the Dubai-Kozhikode flight skidded off the runway for search and rescue.”
Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, expressed his sorrow over the tragic mishap and asked all the government agencies to lay their hands in rescue operations by using all the government facilities. Immediate rescue measures in the plane crash have been directed by CM Vijayan. To coordinate the rescue operations, the Chief Minister has deputed AC Moideen, minister of local bodies. Moideen has left from Thrissur to Karipur for the same. Vijayan has also deputed an IG of Police to look after the rescue operation. Fire and Rescue teams of 2 districts are also their hands for the cause.
It has been instructed that the health authorities will provide every possible medical aid to cure and save the lives of the victims. The rescue operation did begin yesterday by the fire & rescue team and Police warm-up led by IG. It has been proposed to set up a necessary health system and each and every mechanism of the state government should be utilized for disaster relief.
“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,” said Kerala CM.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi spoke to CM Pinarayi Vijayan on phone about the tragic plane crash at Karipur.
Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2020
The Prime Minister was informed on the phone call that a team of officials including Mallapuram and Kozhikode District Collectors and Ashok Yadav (IG) did arrive at the airport to participate in the rescue mission.
Updates!!
- It has been updated that both the pilots have lost their lives in the plane crash mishap and now the total death count is 18.
- Arif Mohammad Khan who is the Governor of Kerala and Hardeep Singh Puri, the Civil Aviation Minister visited the spot where the tragic plane crash took place
- Mr. Hardeep Singh said that “Reached Kozhikode to take stock of the status & implementation of relief measures after the air accident last evening. Will hold consultations with senior civil aviation officials & professionals.
- According to Mr. Hardeep Singh, Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital Flight Data Recorder have been retrieved from the unfortunate plane. The AAIB i.e. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is conducting the probe.
- “As an interim relief, we will be making a payment of Rs 10 lakhs (to kin) of each deceased, Rs 2 lakhs for seriously injured & Rs 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries,” said Hardeep Singh Puri
