(TAN): At least 16 people were killed and dozens were injured when an Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the runway while landing at Kozhikode airport in South India’s Kerala state, went down a 35-feet slope and broke into two pieces on August 7 evening.
According to latest reports, 16 people have died and 123 have been injured in the accident. The aircraft had 190 passengers and crew on board. At least one of the pilots is among the dead.
The Air India Express Flight IX 1344 from Dubai to Kozhikode in Kerala was attempting to land during heavy rain around 1940 hours when the accident took place.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness on the incident. “Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones,” he tweeted.
Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri also tweeted his reaction.
The flight was part of the Vande Bharat Mission that is bringing back Indians from across the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 showed that the aircraft circled the airport several times before making the final landing attempt.
