An Air India Express plane with 191 people on board from Dubai skidded off the runway while landing at Karipur Airport in Kerala’s Kozhikode. The plane has broken into two parts. The flight, IX-1344, bound for Kozhikode from Dubai skidded during landing at the Karipur Airport at around 7.45 pm. The aircraft was part of India’s “Vande Bharat” repatriation initiative to bring back expatriates from foreign countries.
As reported by sources to Zee News, “There were total of 184 passengers, including 10 infants and six crew members, including two pilots, onboard Dubai-Kozhikode Air India flight (IX-1344) that skidded during landing at Karipur Airport today.”
Reportedly the aircraft split into two pieces with debris strewn over the runway. Official confirmation of casualties is awaited. It has been confirmed that the aircraft did not catch fire.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a statement saying, “Air India Express AXB1344, B737 Dubai to Calicut, person on board 191, visibility 2000 meter, heavy rain, after landing Runway 10, continue running to the end of the runway and fell down in the valley and broke down into two pieces.”
A team of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) has been dispatched to Kozhikode from Malappuram in Kerala.
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