Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the 242 passengers on board the crashed Air India flight, died in the plane crash on Thursday, confirmed Gujarat BJP Chief CR Patil while speaking to reporters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport.&nbsp;Interestingly, as per reports, former CM Vijay Rupani was a firm believer in numerology and considered 1206 to be his lucky number. So much so that all of his vehicles bear the registration number 1206. Even the two-wheeler in his household carries the number 1206.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, on Thursday, in a cruel twist of fate, his lucky number could not save him and, in fact, turned out to be fatal for him. Rupani’s seat on the flight was number 12, and he boarded the plane at 12:10 pm.&nbsp;The flight crashed on June 12 (12-06), and this time his lucky number turned calamitous.&nbsp;Earlier, Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil told PTI, “Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is also a victim of this accident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Union Minister and Gujarat BJP president, CR Patil (<a href="https://twitter.com/CRPaatil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CRPaatil</a>) confirms former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani&#39;s demise. Speaking to reporters, he says, &quot;Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is… <a href="https://t.co/5c1VIk8KIb">pic.twitter.com/5c1VIk8KIb</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1933166122301632868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rupani was going to his daughter’s house in London. As per reports, Rupani’s wife, Anjali, was in London for the past several days, and now he was also going to meet his daughter.&nbsp;Rupani served as the 16th chief minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021.&nbsp;Before the tenure as chief minister, Rupani served as the mayor of Rajkot from 1996 to 1997, a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012, and the state cabinet minister for transport, labour, and water supply from 2014 to 2016.Rupani became the chief minister in August 2016, taking over from Anandiben Patel.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. The crash, which is one of the first fatal incidents for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, occurred minutes after the plane took off for London’s Gatwick Airport.As per officials, the pilots of Flight AI 717 issued a MAYDAY call to Ahmedabad air traffic control moments after takeoff but soon lost connection.

Former chief minister Vijay Rupani was going to his daughter’s house in London. As per reports, Rupani’s wife, Anjali, was in London for the past several days, and now he was also going to meet his daughter.

Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the 242 passengers on board the crashed Air India flight, died in the plane crash on Thursday, confirmed Gujarat BJP Chief CR Patil while speaking to reporters. Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport. Interestingly, as per reports, former CM Vijay Rupani was a firm believer in numerology and considered 1206 to be his lucky number. So much so that all of his vehicles bear the registration number 1206. Even the two-wheeler in his household carries the number 1206. However, on Thursday, in a cruel twist of fate, his lucky number could not save him and, in fact, turned out to be fatal for him. Rupani’s seat on the flight was number 12, and he boarded the plane at 12:10 pm. The flight crashed on June 12 (12-06), and this time his lucky number turned calamitous. Earlier, Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil told PTI, “Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is also a victim of this accident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP.”

Former chief minister Vijay Rupani was going to his daughter’s house in London. As per reports, Rupani’s wife, Anjali, was in London for the past several days, and now he was also going to meet his daughter.

Ex-CM Vijay Rupani deemed 1206 to be his lucky number, but 12 June turned out to be fatal

A former FAA and NTSB crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti has expressed concern over the unexplained loss of altitude in the final moments of the Air India flight. He noted that video footage taken just before the crash showed no signs of smoke or fire, making a bird strike unlikely.&nbsp;Even with the loss of one engine, the aircraft should have been able to climb using the other, Guzzetti stressed.&nbsp;&nbsp;He suggested a more serious scenario: The possibility of both engines simultaneously losing power — a phenomenon known as “dual engine rollback.”&nbsp;“This happened on a (Boeing) 777 crash coming into Heathrow about 15 years ago. It was a dual engine roll back due to icing in the fuel. So there could be a fuel issue,” he said.&nbsp;“Usually fuel contamination issues rear their ugly head during takeoff,” he explained.&nbsp;The flight radar data also revealed that the Dreamliner managed to climb only 625 feet and could not gain further altitude, leading to the aviation disaster.&nbsp;The flight departed from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm IST and lost contact with air traffic control less than a minute later.&nbsp;Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 said the aircraft’s signal was lost at an altitude of just 625 feet, a dangerously low height for a jet of its size and weight.&nbsp;Several videos that have been shared by locals on social media also show the plane struggling to gain altitude and descending rapidly, followed by a loud explosion and a massive fireball as it crashed. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Tata Group has announced that it will give ₹1 crore to the families of each individual who died in the Air India plane crash.&nbsp;The group will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that all necessary care and support are provided to them.

Ahmedabad plane crash: Former crash investigator questions why plane failed to climb before it went down

A former FAA and NTSB crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti has expressed concern over the unexplained loss of altitude in the final moments of the Air India flight. He noted that video footage taken just before the crash showed no signs of smoke or fire, making a bird strike unlikely. Even with the loss of one engine, the aircraft should have been able to climb using the other, Guzzetti stressed. He suggested a more serious scenario: The possibility of both engines simultaneously losing power — a phenomenon known as “dual engine rollback.” “This happened on a (Boeing) 777 crash coming into Heathrow about 15 years ago. It was a dual engine roll back due to icing in the fuel. So there could be a fuel issue,” he said. “Usually fuel contamination issues rear their ugly head during takeoff,” he explained. The flight radar data also revealed that the Dreamliner managed to climb only 625 feet and could not gain further altitude, leading to the aviation disaster. The flight departed from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm IST and lost contact with air traffic control less than a minute later. Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 said the aircraft’s signal was lost at an altitude of just 625 feet, a dangerously low height for a jet of its size and weight. Several videos that have been shared by locals on social media also show the plane struggling to gain altitude and descending rapidly, followed by a loud explosion and a massive fireball as it crashed. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site. Meanwhile, the Tata Group has announced that it will give ₹1 crore to the families of each individual who died in the Air India plane crash. The group will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that all necessary care and support are provided to them.

Guzzetti said it’s possible that both engines started to “roll back” and lose power at the same time

The Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12) brought heartbreak to Rajasthan after taking the lives of a whole family from Banswara who were traveling to begin a new life in London.&nbsp;Pratik Joshi had spent the last six years in London. A software professional himself, Joshi had always dreamed of making a future outside India for his three small children and wife. That dream was finally taking shape this week, but fate had some other plans.&nbsp;Onboard the ill-fated flight with Pratik was his wife, Dr Komi Vyas, a medical professional who had tendered her resignation just two days earlier to prepare for their permanent move. Their three children, including five-year-old twin daughters, were accompanying them on the journey. &nbsp;Locals remember the couple as one of hope and determination – both well-educated, staunchly devoted to their careers, and dedicated to their kids. Their death came as a shock to Banswara, with friends, relatives, and past colleagues struggling to believe the news.&nbsp;“The entire town is grieving," said a close family friend, adding that they were a warm, progressive couple who wanted the best for their children. Four residents of Rajasthan's Udaipur district were among the 242 people on board the Air India flight that crashed. According to Udaipur district administration authorities, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has spoken with the families of those affected and assured them of all necessary assistance. "As per initial information, there were four passengers from Udaipur district on board the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad. The Chief Minister has spoken to their family members... The administration stands with them, and all necessary help will be extended. The families have been contacted," Udaipur District Magistrate Namit Mehta told reporters.&nbsp;The plane was boarded by 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.

Ahmedabad plane crash: Rajasthan doctor who quit job to start afresh in London, killed along with family

The Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12) brought heartbreak to Rajasthan after taking the lives of a whole family from Banswara who were traveling to begin a new life in London. Pratik Joshi had spent the last six years in London. A software professional himself, Joshi had always dreamed of making a future outside India for his three small children and wife. That dream was finally taking shape this week, but fate had some other plans. Onboard the ill-fated flight with Pratik was his wife, Dr Komi Vyas, a medical professional who had tendered her resignation just two days earlier to prepare for their permanent move. Their three children, including five-year-old twin daughters, were accompanying them on the journey. Locals remember the couple as one of hope and determination – both well-educated, staunchly devoted to their careers, and dedicated to their kids. Their death came as a shock to Banswara, with friends, relatives, and past colleagues struggling to believe the news. “The entire town is grieving," said a close family friend, adding that they were a warm, progressive couple who wanted the best for their children. Four residents of Rajasthan's Udaipur district were among the 242 people on board the Air India flight that crashed. According to Udaipur district administration authorities, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has spoken with the families of those affected and assured them of all necessary assistance. "As per initial information, there were four passengers from Udaipur district on board the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad. The Chief Minister has spoken to their family members... The administration stands with them, and all necessary help will be extended. The families have been contacted," Udaipur District Magistrate Namit Mehta told reporters. The plane was boarded by 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.

The plane, en route to London, had taken off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 pm IST

Malappuram District Collector K Gopalakrishnan, his deputy and 21 other of his staff in the collectorate have tested positive for coronavirus.

Gopalakrishnan on August 7 actively participated in the rescue operations following the Air India Express flight crash at the Karipur airport in Kozhikode. He reportedly went into quarantine after that, and tested positive on Friday.

Malappuram district has the second highest number of coronavirus cases -- 1,965 cases -- after the state capital.

Malappuram district police chief Abdul Karim tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

At least 18 people were killed and more than 100 injured when an Air India Express passenger plane repatriating Indians stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic overshot the runway in heavy rain near the southern city of Kozhikode last week.

The Boeing-737 flight from Dubai to Calicut International Airport was carrying 190 passengers and crew, the civil aviation ministry said in a statement. Among them were 10 infants.

India, which shut down all air travel in late March to try to contain the novel coronavirus, has restarted limited international air travel. Air India Express AXB1344 was a government-operated repatriation flight for Indians previously unable to return home because of the travel restrictions.

(with inputs from agencies)

Malappuram District Collector K Gopalakrishnan, his deputy and 21 other of his staff in the collectorate have tested positive for coronavirus. Gopalakrishnan on August 7 actively participated in the rescue operations following the Air India Express flight crash at the Karipur airport in Kozhikode.

Malappuram District Collector K Gopalakrishnan, his deputy and 21 other of his staff in the collectorate have tested positive for coronavirus. Gopalakrishnan on August 7 actively participated in the rescue operations following the Air India Express flight crash at the Karipur airport in Kozhikode. He reportedly went into quarantine after that, and tested positive on Friday. Malappuram district has the second highest number of coronavirus cases -- 1,965 cases -- after the state capital. Malappuram district police chief Abdul Karim tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. At least 18 people were killed and more than 100 injured when an Air India Express passenger plane repatriating Indians stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic overshot the runway in heavy rain near the southern city of Kozhikode last week. The Boeing-737 flight from Dubai to Calicut International Airport was carrying 190 passengers and crew, the civil aviation ministry said in a statement. Among them were 10 infants. India, which shut down all air travel in late March to try to contain the novel coronavirus, has restarted limited international air travel. Air India Express AXB1344 was a government-operated repatriation flight for Indians previously unable to return home because of the travel restrictions. (with inputs from agencies)

Malappuram officials involved in Kerala plane crash rescue ops test positive for coronavirus

The death toll in the massive landslide that destroyed a row of 20 houses of tea estate workers in the high range Idukki district of Kerala on Saturday climbed to 26 with 11 more bodies being recovered from the debris,as efforts were on amid continuing rains to locate those missing.

In his press meet at Thiruvananthapuram, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said11 bodies were recovered from the site of the landslide at Rajamala while three are yet to be identified.

"This is in addition to the 15 bodies recovered yesterday.This brings the death toll in the landslide at the tea plantation to 26.

Rescue operations are continuing at Rajamala in full swing.

Post-mortem of the victims is being speeded up.

An amount of Rs 5 lakh was announced yesterday as emergency assistance for those who lost their lives. 
"The government will bear the medical treatment expenses of those injured in the disaster," Vijayan said.

The chief minister said 78 people were staying at the spot where the tragedy occurred.

While 12 were rescued, 26 bodies were found, he said,adding that efforts were on to find the rest.

Vijayan said the state government will support the families of the victims to enable them return to their normal lives.

"Two teams of National Disaster Response Force are involved in the rescue operations in addition to the locals, police, fire force and plantation workers.

Swamp formation due to the presence of water in the landslide area is posing a big challenge to the rescue operations," Vijayan said.

The picturesque landscape of Pettimudi was flattened into a rough patch of boulders and mud with parts of asbestos and tin sheets seen scattered around.

The incident is said to have occurred in the wee hours of Friday when a huge mound of earth fell on the "row houses" and two children and five women were among the deceased, most of whom were plantation workers from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

NDRF chief in charge of south Indian state, Rekha Nambiar is leading the 55-member team which is entrusted with the search and rescue mission.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad districts on Sunday.

According to the State Disaster Management Authority, Kerala received an average rainfall of 95 mm in the last 24 hours while Vadakara in Kozhikode recorded 32.7 cms of rain, the heaviest in the state.

Vaythiri in Wayanad received 19.3 cms of rain while Peerumedu in Idukki district 18.5 cms.

In the four-month-long Southwest monsoon season, which began in June first week, Kerala has reported a total of 51deaths till Thursday night due to various incidents of drowning, landslides, and tree fall.

The death toll in the massive landslide that destroyed a row of 20 houses of tea estate workers in the high range Idukki district of Kerala on Saturday climbed to 26 with 11 more bodies being recovered from the debris,as efforts were on amid continuing rains to locate those missing.

The death toll in the massive landslide that destroyed a row of 20 houses of tea estate workers in the high range Idukki district of Kerala on Saturday climbed to 26 with 11 more bodies being recovered from the debris,as efforts were on amid continuing rains to locate those missing. In his press meet at Thiruvananthapuram, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said11 bodies were recovered from the site of the landslide at Rajamala while three are yet to be identified. "This is in addition to the 15 bodies recovered yesterday.This brings the death toll in the landslide at the tea plantation to 26. Rescue operations are continuing at Rajamala in full swing. Post-mortem of the victims is being speeded up. An amount of Rs 5 lakh was announced yesterday as emergency assistance for those who lost their lives. "The government will bear the medical treatment expenses of those injured in the disaster," Vijayan said. The chief minister said 78 people were staying at the spot where the tragedy occurred. While 12 were rescued, 26 bodies were found, he said,adding that efforts were on to find the rest. Vijayan said the state government will support the families of the victims to enable them return to their normal lives. "Two teams of National Disaster Response Force are involved in the rescue operations in addition to the locals, police, fire force and plantation workers. Swamp formation due to the presence of water in the landslide area is posing a big challenge to the rescue operations," Vijayan said. The picturesque landscape of Pettimudi was flattened into a rough patch of boulders and mud with parts of asbestos and tin sheets seen scattered around. The incident is said to have occurred in the wee hours of Friday when a huge mound of earth fell on the "row houses" and two children and five women were among the deceased, most of whom were plantation workers from neighbouring Tamil Nadu. NDRF chief in charge of south Indian state, Rekha Nambiar is leading the 55-member team which is entrusted with the search and rescue mission. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad districts on Sunday. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, Kerala received an average rainfall of 95 mm in the last 24 hours while Vadakara in Kozhikode recorded 32.7 cms of rain, the heaviest in the state. Vaythiri in Wayanad received 19.3 cms of rain while Peerumedu in Idukki district 18.5 cms. In the four-month-long Southwest monsoon season, which began in June first week, Kerala has reported a total of 51deaths till Thursday night due to various incidents of drowning, landslides, and tree fall.

Toll in Kerala landslides rises to 26; search on to locate missing persons

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As the death toll for the Air India plane crash rose to 18, various political leaders from around the world offered their condolences to the people who have been affected by the tragic crash that took place on Friday late evening.

The Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the table-top runway at Kozhikode airport at 7:41 pm last night. There were 184 passengers onboard including 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan offered his condolences to the victims late night on Friday. "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," he tweeted.

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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.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1291797658454163459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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India's other neighbours, Sri Lanka and Nepal, too, sent out messages on Twitter.

Pradeep Gyawali,&nbsp;Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal tweeted:&nbsp;Deeply saddened by the news of Air India Express aircraft's accident in Kerala, India last night. Nepal extends deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those injured.

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Deeply saddened by the news of Air India Express aircraft's accident in Kerala, India last night. Nepal extends deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those injured.
— Pradeep Gyawali (@PradeepgyawaliK) <a href="https://twitter.com/PradeepgyawaliK/status/1291953695756779520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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We are shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic plane crash at Kozhikode, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a>. We express our deepest condolences to bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> at this hour of grief.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiainSL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiainSL</a>
— MFA SL (@MFA_SriLanka) <a href="https://twitter.com/MFA_SriLanka/status/1291942049801834497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Extremely saddened to hear of the Air India Express plane crash in Kerala on Friday evening. I offer my condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy, and prayers for the ongoing recovery effort.
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) <a href="https://twitter.com/ibusolih/status/1291896001008033792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Other countries that offered their condolences and prayers to the victims included Japan, China, the US and more.

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On behalf of the U.S. Mission, we are deeply saddened by the news of the Air India accident in Kozhikode. The victims and their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers.
— Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/1291797570050695168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Shocked to hear about the tragic accident of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndiaExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndiaExpress</a> aircraft in Kerala. My deep condolences to the families of the victims. Wish a quick recovery of the injured.
— Sun Weidong (@China_Amb_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/China_Amb_India/status/1291798350543511552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Deeply saddened by the news of the Air India Express Plane accident in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kozhikode?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kozhikode</a>. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. 🙏🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/airindiain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@airindiain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KozhikodePlaneCrash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KozhikodePlaneCrash</a>
— Barry O’Farrell AO (@AusHCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AusHCIndia/status/1291949588685889536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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My heart bleeds for the air accident of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndiaExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndiaExpress</a> in Kozhikode and landslide in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idukki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Idukki</a>. My thoughts are with those who lost their beloved ones and are injured. I hope search &amp; rescue will conclude as quickly as possible.
— Satoshi Suzuki (@EOJinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/EOJinIndia/status/1291954814931226631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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I'm shocked &amp; saddened to hear about the tragic plane crash at Kozhikode, Kerala. On behalf of the Gov. &amp; People of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SriLanka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SriLanka</a>, I express my deepest condolences to bereaved families &amp; wish the injured a speedy recovery. Our prayers are w/the people of India at this hour of grief.
— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresRajapaksa/status/1291998754174722048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Members of the Emergency Response and the Special Assistance Team reached the crash site from Cochin, Mumbai and Delhi to help with the rescue mission.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/17-dead-more-than-100-injured-in-the-air-india-plane-crash-at-calicut-airport-on-friday-318976">Also watch:&nbsp;17 dead, more than 100 injured in the Air India plane crash at Calicut Airport on Friday</a>

As the death toll for the Air India plane crash rose to 18, various political leaders from around the world offered their condolences to the people who have been affected by the tragic crash that took place on Friday late evening.

As the death toll for the Air India plane crash rose to 18, various political leaders from around the world offered their condolences to the people who have been affected by the tragic crash that took place on Friday late evening. The Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the table-top runway at Kozhikode airport at 7:41 pm last night. There were 184 passengers onboard including 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan offered his condolences to the victims late night on Friday. "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," he tweeted. 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. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 7, 2020 × India's other neighbours, Sri Lanka and Nepal, too, sent out messages on Twitter. Pradeep Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal tweeted: Deeply saddened by the news of Air India Express aircraft's accident in Kerala, India last night. Nepal extends deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those injured. Deeply saddened by the news of Air India Express aircraft's accident in Kerala, India last night. Nepal extends deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those injured. — Pradeep Gyawali (@PradeepgyawaliK) August 8, 2020 × We are shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic plane crash at Kozhikode, #Kerala. We express our deepest condolences to bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of #India at this hour of grief.#Lk @IndiainSL — MFA SL (@MFA_SriLanka) August 8, 2020 × Extremely saddened to hear of the Air India Express plane crash in Kerala on Friday evening. I offer my condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy, and prayers for the ongoing recovery effort. — Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) August 8, 2020 × Other countries that offered their condolences and prayers to the victims included Japan, China, the US and more. On behalf of the U.S. Mission, we are deeply saddened by the news of the Air India accident in Kozhikode. The victims and their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers. — Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) August 7, 2020 × Shocked to hear about the tragic accident of #AirIndiaExpress aircraft in Kerala. My deep condolences to the families of the victims. Wish a quick recovery of the injured. — Sun Weidong (@China_Amb_India) August 7, 2020 × Deeply saddened by the news of the Air India Express Plane accident in #Kozhikode. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. 🙏🏻 @airindiain #KozhikodePlaneCrash — Barry O’Farrell AO (@AusHCIndia) August 8, 2020 × My heart bleeds for the air accident of #AirIndiaExpress in Kozhikode and landslide in #Idukki. My thoughts are with those who lost their beloved ones and are injured. I hope search & rescue will conclude as quickly as possible. — Satoshi Suzuki (@EOJinIndia) August 8, 2020 × I'm shocked & saddened to hear about the tragic plane crash at Kozhikode, Kerala. On behalf of the Gov. & People of #SriLanka, I express my deepest condolences to bereaved families & wish the injured a speedy recovery. Our prayers are w/the people of India at this hour of grief. — Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) August 8, 2020 × Members of the Emergency Response and the Special Assistance Team reached the crash site from Cochin, Mumbai and Delhi to help with the rescue mission. Also watch: 17 dead, more than 100 injured in the Air India plane crash at Calicut Airport on Friday

Air India plane crash: US, Pakistan, China and others offer condolences

The condition of at least 14 passengers of the ill-fated Air India Express flight remains critical, Malappuram District Collector K Gopalakrishnan said on Sunday.

Eighteen people, including the pilot and co-pilot of the AIE flight from Dubai lost their lives, when it overshot the tabletop runway at the airport here while landing in heavy rains and fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into two portions on Friday night.

"Till now, 49 people have been discharged from various hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode. The condition of 14 people remains critical," Gopalakrishnan told.

The remaining 109 people are under treatment at different hospitals.

Air India Express on Sunday said the mortal remains of 16 passengers, who lost their lives in the plane crash, have been handed over to their families.

The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot of the AIE flight, were handed over to their families on Saturday.

The remains of co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar were cremated on Sunday with attendance from all family members as well as officials of Air India and Air India Express at Mathura, his hometown, it said.&nbsp;

The condition of at least 14 passengers of the ill-fated Air India Express flight remains critical, Malappuram District Collector K Gopalakrishnan said on Sunday.

The condition of at least 14 passengers of the ill-fated Air India Express flight remains critical, Malappuram District Collector K Gopalakrishnan said on Sunday. Eighteen people, including the pilot and co-pilot of the AIE flight from Dubai lost their lives, when it overshot the tabletop runway at the airport here while landing in heavy rains and fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into two portions on Friday night. "Till now, 49 people have been discharged from various hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode. The condition of 14 people remains critical," Gopalakrishnan told. The remaining 109 people are under treatment at different hospitals. Air India Express on Sunday said the mortal remains of 16 passengers, who lost their lives in the plane crash, have been handed over to their families. The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot of the AIE flight, were handed over to their families on Saturday. The remains of co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar were cremated on Sunday with attendance from all family members as well as officials of Air India and Air India Express at Mathura, his hometown, it said.

Kozhikode plane crash: Condition of 14 passengers critical, says official

Indian investigators on Sunday began examining the black box of a Boeing-737 that overshot a runway on its second attempt, killing 18 people in the country's worst aviation accident in a decade.

Indian investigators on Sunday began examining the black box of a Boeing-737 that overshot a runway on its second attempt, killing 18 people in the country's worst aviation accident in a decade. The Air India Express plane, which was repatriating Indians stranded in Dubai due to the coronavirus pandemic, overshot the runway of the Calicut International Airport in heavy rain near the southern city of Kozhikode on Friday. The aircraft fell into a valley and broke in half. In an interview with Reuters partner ANI on Sunday, Arun Kumar, head of India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said the country would open the recovered transcripts to international investigators, as well as manufacturer Boeing. "Only after conducting a thorough and unbiased probe, can we tell what exactly happened," Kumar said. The 2,700 metre runway at the airport is known as a "table-top", an aviation term for runways with steep drops at one or both ends. They leave little room for error should a pilot overshoot the runway, either through human error or mechanical failure. "The length of the runway in Calicut is around 2,700 metres and the plane touched the ground after crossing 1,000 metres of the length, leaving less room to bring the aircraft to a halt," the official, who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters. "It was windy and rainy and the runway surface was wet. In such instances the weather is dynamic." "An aircraft typically lands and departs in a headwind as a tailwind increases the plane's speed." A spokesman for Air India did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has already said it will pay compensation to the families of the deceased.

India begins examination of plane's black box after deadly crash

The Air India Express passenger plane crash came as a shared loss for both New Delhi and Abu Dhabi as the flight was repatriating Indians stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE.&nbsp;

The Boeing-737 flight from Dubai to Calicut International Airport, carrying 190 passengers and crew, overshot the runway in heavy rain near the southern city of Kozhikode on Friday. Eighteen of the 190 passengers and crew, including both pilots, died, officials said on Saturday.

Kerala is also grappling with rising number of coronavirus cases, and flooding and landslides due to heavy rains.

To this end, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, tweeted to show solidarity with "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in these trying times.

"We share our heartfelt condolences with our friend PM @narendramodi and all the people of India affected by the tragic plane accident, and the recent flooding. You remain in our prayers during these difficult times," he posted on Twitter.

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We share our heartfelt condolences with our friend PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and all the people of India affected by the tragic plane accident, and the recent flooding. You remain in our prayers during these difficult times.
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohamedBinZayed/status/1292161051023118337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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It was India’s worst passenger aircraft accident since 2010, when another Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the table-top runway at Mangalore, a city in the south, and slid down a hill, killing 158 people.

India's relations with the UAE are "at their best ever" as bilateral ties have been elevated from a mere "buyer-seller" to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership in the last four years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said last year as he highlighted the excellent rapport between the leadership of the two countries.

The two nations quite often indulge in exchanging workforce. Many Indians are happily settled in UAE and had been earning well until the coronavirus pandemic struck.

It was only after the lockdown started to wreak havoc on the economy that several firms in UAE dried up, and the Indian nationals had to be repatriated.

India had closed international travel on March 25 as part of the nationwide lockdown.&nbsp;

The Narendra Modi-led government then commenced the world’s largest repatriation operations from May 7, in a bid to help stranded people reach their destinations amid the pandemic.

The Air India Express passenger plane crash came as a shared loss for both New Delhi and Abu Dhabi as the flight was repatriating Indians stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE.

The Air India Express passenger plane crash came as a shared loss for both New Delhi and Abu Dhabi as the flight was repatriating Indians stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE. The Boeing-737 flight from Dubai to Calicut International Airport, carrying 190 passengers and crew, overshot the runway in heavy rain near the southern city of Kozhikode on Friday. Eighteen of the 190 passengers and crew, including both pilots, died, officials said on Saturday. Kerala is also grappling with rising number of coronavirus cases, and flooding and landslides due to heavy rains. To this end, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, tweeted to show solidarity with "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in these trying times. "We share our heartfelt condolences with our friend PM @narendramodi and all the people of India affected by the tragic plane accident, and the recent flooding. You remain in our prayers during these difficult times," he posted on Twitter. We share our heartfelt condolences with our friend PM @narendramodi and all the people of India affected by the tragic plane accident, and the recent flooding. You remain in our prayers during these difficult times. — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 8, 2020 × It was India’s worst passenger aircraft accident since 2010, when another Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the table-top runway at Mangalore, a city in the south, and slid down a hill, killing 158 people. India's relations with the UAE are "at their best ever" as bilateral ties have been elevated from a mere "buyer-seller" to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership in the last four years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said last year as he highlighted the excellent rapport between the leadership of the two countries. The two nations quite often indulge in exchanging workforce. Many Indians are happily settled in UAE and had been earning well until the coronavirus pandemic struck. It was only after the lockdown started to wreak havoc on the economy that several firms in UAE dried up, and the Indian nationals had to be repatriated. India had closed international travel on March 25 as part of the nationwide lockdown. The Narendra Modi-led government then commenced the world’s largest repatriation operations from May 7, in a bid to help stranded people reach their destinations amid the pandemic.

UAE's Mohamed bin Zayed sends condolences to 'friend' PM Modi after Air India plane crash

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were recovered from the site where an Indian passenger aircraft crashed, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed on Saturday.

Speaking at a news conference,&nbsp;Puri said the black boxes containing the data had been retrieved as he urged people not to speculate about what caused Friday's deadly crash.

The news of the black boxes' recovery came as the family of the plane's pilot Deepak Sathe, who was killed in the accident along with the co-pilot Akhilesh Sharma, gathered together in their home state of Maharashtra.

The death toll from the Air India plane crash accident rose to 18, with 16 people seriously injured, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/death-toll-in-air-india-plane-crash-rises-to-at-least-18-relief-work-underway-318970">Death toll in Air India plane crash rises to at least 18; relief work underway</a>

The Boeing 737, on a special flight from Dubai to bring back Indians stranded by the coronavirus pandemic, overshot the runway at Kozhikode in Kerala state, plunged down an embankment and broke up.

"Fuel had leaked out so it was a miracle that the plane did not catch fire, the toll could have been much higher," one senior emergency official at the scene said.

Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited the site Saturday and announced that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders had been found, which will help the investigation into the cause of the crash.&nbsp;

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau was conducting the probe, he said.

Kozhikode is considered a tricky airport as it has a table-top runway with a steep drop at one end.

Kerala has been hit by severe floods in recent days and heavy rains had been falling for several hours at Kozhikode as the jet landed.

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were recovered from the site where an Indian passenger aircraft crashed, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed on Saturday.

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were recovered from the site where an Indian passenger aircraft crashed, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed on Saturday. Speaking at a news conference, Puri said the black boxes containing the data had been retrieved as he urged people not to speculate about what caused Friday's deadly crash. The news of the black boxes' recovery came as the family of the plane's pilot Deepak Sathe, who was killed in the accident along with the co-pilot Akhilesh Sharma, gathered together in their home state of Maharashtra. The death toll from the Air India plane crash accident rose to 18, with 16 people seriously injured, a senior government official said on Saturday. Also read: Death toll in Air India plane crash rises to at least 18; relief work underway The Boeing 737, on a special flight from Dubai to bring back Indians stranded by the coronavirus pandemic, overshot the runway at Kozhikode in Kerala state, plunged down an embankment and broke up. "Fuel had leaked out so it was a miracle that the plane did not catch fire, the toll could have been much higher," one senior emergency official at the scene said. Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited the site Saturday and announced that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders had been found, which will help the investigation into the cause of the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau was conducting the probe, he said. Kozhikode is considered a tricky airport as it has a table-top runway with a steep drop at one end. Kerala has been hit by severe floods in recent days and heavy rains had been falling for several hours at Kozhikode as the jet landed.

Black boxes of crashed Air India plane recovered, says Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

A major mishap at India Kozhikode airport has left 18 people dead and over 100 injured after an Air India Express aircraft arriving from Dubai crashed at Calicut International Airport. Watch report.

Calicut Plane Crash: 18 dead in the crash, What is a tabletop runway?

The death toll in the Kozhikode plane crash has risen&nbsp;to at least 18, the Air India Express said on Saturday.

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport at 7.41 PM on Friday. There were 184 passengers including 10 infants, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew on board the aircraft, the ministry added.

Captain Deepak Sathe, the pilot-in-command, and his co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar were among those who died, police and airline officials said on Friday. Sathe was a former Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and had served at the force's flight testing establishment.

The Air India Express flight skidded off a hilltop runway and split in two while landing in heavy rain at an airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening.

Air India Express said on Saturday that three relief flights had been arranged to Kozhikode in Kerala to assist passengers and their family members affected by the plane crash a day ago.

Members of the Emergency Response and the Special Assistance Team have been pressed into service from Cochin, Mumbai and Delhi.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reached Kozhikode on Saturday to take stock of the status and implementation of relief measures.

He said the reasons for the crash were being investigated. He also announced Rs 10 lakh interim relief for each of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries.

Air India Express also announced compensation for those killed. Air India Express has said, "The airline is adequately insured and will pay compensation in accordance with applicable law at the appropriate juncture. To provide immediate relief, as an interim compensation AI India Express will give: Rs 10 lakh to the next kin of the deceased passenger 12 years and above, Rs 5 lakh to the passengers below the age of 12 years, Rs 2 lakh to critical injured passengers and Rs 50,000 to the passengers who are injured in the incident."

The black box and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered from the site, a top official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation told Reuters on Saturday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/plane-splits-into-two-during-landing-at-kozhikode-airport-in-kerala-pilot-dead-318914">Also read |&nbsp;At least 15 dead, including pilot in plane crash at Kerala airport</a>

Air India Express has also arranged a "special relief flight from Mumbai and Delhi" for rendering humanitarian assistance to all the passengers and their family members. It has also established a passenger information centre and a toll-free number has been made available for the family or friends of those who may have been on board flight IX-1344.&nbsp;

"The toll free number is 1800 2222 71. For those calling from outside, please call international country code."

"Air India Express Limited regrets to confirm that its flight IX-1344 from DXB (Dubai International Airport) to CCJ (Kozhikode International Airport) was involved in an accident on August 7, 2020 at Calicut. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the passengers and crew and their families. We would like to inform that as of now there are 17 confirmed deceased including two pilots. The four-cabin crew members are confirmed safe," the air carrier said in the statement, on early Saturday morning.

RELIEF WORK BEING DONE

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal, and Air India Express Chief Executive Officer K Shyam Sundar have already reached Kozhikode, according to a statement.

Bansal, along with senior airline officials, "rushed" to the accident site "to take stock of the situation and are being briefed by experts", Air India tweeted.

Two special relief flights have been arranged from Delhi and one from Mumbai for rendering humanitarian assistance to all the passengers and the family members, Air India Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the national carrier, said.

"The Emergency Response Director is coordinating with all the agencies in Calicut (Kozhikode), Mumbai as well as Delhi, Dubai for effective emergency response," it said in a statement.

"The AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau), DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) &amp; Flight Safety Departments have reached for investigating the accident," it added.

The airline said its chief of operations and the chief of flight safety had already reached Kozhikode.

Expressing "deepest condolences" to the families of those who have lost their lives in the accident, aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it is in contact with the Air India team and have offered to support them in any way possible.

"Boeing is prepared to provide a technical team to assist the US National Transportation Safety Board, in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 guidelines, as The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India conducts its investigation," the US-based company said.

Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

However, special repatriation flights have been operated by Air India and Air India Express since May 6 under the Vande Bharat Mission to help stranded people reach their destinations.

Private carriers have also operated a certain number of flights under this mission.

Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate in Dubai remained open on Saturday to help those who need assistance to travel to Kerala and provide information about the crash.

"We are with all the families of injured and deceased and will do our best to assist them," the consulate tweeted on Friday evening.

The Indian consulates in Dubai and Sharjah have activated five helpline numbers to provide information to the family members of the deceased and the injured passengers.

"We pray for the wellbeing of passengers and crew and will keep you updated as and when we receive further updates. Our helplines +97156 5463903, +971543090572, +971543090571, +971543090575," Puri told PTI on Friday.

The helpline number to call in Sharjah for updates is +97165970303, the Gulf News reported.

Air India Express has also established a helpline number in Sharjah at +971 6 5970303.

(with inputs from agencies)

The death toll in the Kozhikode plane crash has risen to at least 18, the Air India Express said on Saturday. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport at 7.

The death toll in the Kozhikode plane crash has risen to at least 18, the Air India Express said on Saturday. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport at 7.41 PM on Friday. There were 184 passengers including 10 infants, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew on board the aircraft, the ministry added. Captain Deepak Sathe, the pilot-in-command, and his co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar were among those who died, police and airline officials said on Friday. Sathe was a former Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and had served at the force's flight testing establishment. The Air India Express flight skidded off a hilltop runway and split in two while landing in heavy rain at an airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening. Air India Express said on Saturday that three relief flights had been arranged to Kozhikode in Kerala to assist passengers and their family members affected by the plane crash a day ago. Members of the Emergency Response and the Special Assistance Team have been pressed into service from Cochin, Mumbai and Delhi. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reached Kozhikode on Saturday to take stock of the status and implementation of relief measures. He said the reasons for the crash were being investigated. He also announced Rs 10 lakh interim relief for each of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries. Air India Express also announced compensation for those killed. Air India Express has said, "The airline is adequately insured and will pay compensation in accordance with applicable law at the appropriate juncture. To provide immediate relief, as an interim compensation AI India Express will give: Rs 10 lakh to the next kin of the deceased passenger 12 years and above, Rs 5 lakh to the passengers below the age of 12 years, Rs 2 lakh to critical injured passengers and Rs 50,000 to the passengers who are injured in the incident." The black box and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered from the site, a top official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation told Reuters on Saturday. Also read | At least 15 dead, including pilot in plane crash at Kerala airport Air India Express has also arranged a "special relief flight from Mumbai and Delhi" for rendering humanitarian assistance to all the passengers and their family members. It has also established a passenger information centre and a toll-free number has been made available for the family or friends of those who may have been on board flight IX-1344. "The toll free number is 1800 2222 71. For those calling from outside, please call international country code." "Air India Express Limited regrets to confirm that its flight IX-1344 from DXB (Dubai International Airport) to CCJ (Kozhikode International Airport) was involved in an accident on August 7, 2020 at Calicut. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the passengers and crew and their families. We would like to inform that as of now there are 17 confirmed deceased including two pilots. The four-cabin crew members are confirmed safe," the air carrier said in the statement, on early Saturday morning. RELIEF WORK BEING DONE Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal, and Air India Express Chief Executive Officer K Shyam Sundar have already reached Kozhikode, according to a statement. Bansal, along with senior airline officials, "rushed" to the accident site "to take stock of the situation and are being briefed by experts", Air India tweeted. Two special relief flights have been arranged from Delhi and one from Mumbai for rendering humanitarian assistance to all the passengers and the family members, Air India Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the national carrier, said. "The Emergency Response Director is coordinating with all the agencies in Calicut (Kozhikode), Mumbai as well as Delhi, Dubai for effective emergency response," it said in a statement. "The AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau), DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) & Flight Safety Departments have reached for investigating the accident," it added. The airline said its chief of operations and the chief of flight safety had already reached Kozhikode. Expressing "deepest condolences" to the families of those who have lost their lives in the accident, aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it is in contact with the Air India team and have offered to support them in any way possible. "Boeing is prepared to provide a technical team to assist the US National Transportation Safety Board, in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 guidelines, as The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India conducts its investigation," the US-based company said. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, special repatriation flights have been operated by Air India and Air India Express since May 6 under the Vande Bharat Mission to help stranded people reach their destinations. Private carriers have also operated a certain number of flights under this mission. Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate in Dubai remained open on Saturday to help those who need assistance to travel to Kerala and provide information about the crash. "We are with all the families of injured and deceased and will do our best to assist them," the consulate tweeted on Friday evening. The Indian consulates in Dubai and Sharjah have activated five helpline numbers to provide information to the family members of the deceased and the injured passengers. "We pray for the wellbeing of passengers and crew and will keep you updated as and when we receive further updates. Our helplines +97156 5463903, +971543090572, +971543090571, +971543090575," Puri told PTI on Friday. The helpline number to call in Sharjah for updates is +97165970303, the Gulf News reported. Air India Express has also established a helpline number in Sharjah at +971 6 5970303. (with inputs from agencies)

Death toll in Air India plane crash rises to at least 18; relief work underway

An Air India Express plane with over 190 people on board has crashed at an airport in the southern state of Kerala. The aircraft, en route from Dubai, skidded off the runway and broke in two at Calicut airport upon landing, India's aviation authority said. Watch report.

Air India flight skids off runway | Kerala | Over 190 people onboard | 2 lives lost

Aviation regulator DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport on July 11 last year after it found "various critical safety lapses", officials said on Saturday.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation pointed to cracks on the runway, water stagnation and excessive rubber deposits among other lapses in its show-cause notice.

The DGCA conducted the inspection after an Air India Express flight coming from Dammam in Saudi Arabia had a "tail strike" while landing at the Calicut (Kozhikode) airport on July 2 last year, an official said.

A little over a year later, on Friday evening, an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people on board overshot "runway 10" at the Calicut airport in heavy rain and went down 35 feet into a gorge before breaking into two pieces, killing at least 18 people.

"After the July 2 incident last year, the DGCA inspected the airport on July 4 and July 5 and found various critical safety lapses," said a senior DGCA official.

On July 11, Kozhikode airport director K Srinivasa Rao was issued a show cause notice, added another DGCA official.

However, it is not clear if any action was taken against Rao after the show-cause was issued.

The show-cause notice, which PTI accessed, said "cracks are observed at runway 28 TDZ (touchdown zone) and along runway C/L (center/left) marking at runway 10 TDZ".

The touchdown zone (TDZ) is the part where the aircraft first contacts the surface while landing. The touchdown zone is ahead of the threshold area of the runway.

The notice also said "excessive rubber deposit" was observed in the area from runway C/L marking to three metres on both the sides of touchdown zone of runway 28.

Similar excessive rubber deposits were found by the DGCA along runway C/L marking of touchdown zone of runway 10, according to the notice.

"Water stagnation of about 1.5 metre length was observed on the area between runway edge and intermediate turn pad on runway 28," it said.

Besides, the DGCA found several cracks in aircraft stand number 5. It also observed that a "portion of Apron surface" of about 111 metres was damaged, it said. Apron is the area of the airport where aircraft are parked, refuelled and where passengers board.

"A steep downward slope of approximately five feet depth is observed immediately after the apron behind aircraft number 1, which needs to be levelled and graded," the notice said.

The DGCA observed a shortage of reserve stock of 6,630 litres of Aqueous Film Forming Foam concentrate (AFFF) and 140 kg of "DCP complementary agent" - both are used to put out fires - at the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) station of the airport.

Air India Express, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, said on Saturday that three relief flights had been arranged to Kozhikode in Kerala to assist passengers and their family members affected by the plane crash a day ago. Officials said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will go to Kozhikode on Saturday.

Officials of the AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau), the DGCA and the flight safety department of the airline have reached the accident site to investigate the accident, said the airline on Saturday morning.

Scheduled international passenger flights remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

However, special repatriation flights have been operated by Air India and Air India Express since May 6 under the Vande Bharat Mission to help stranded people reach their destinations. Private carriers have also operated a certain number of flights under this mission.

Aviation regulator DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport on July 11 last year after it found "various critical safety lapses", officials said on Saturday.

Aviation regulator DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport on July 11 last year after it found "various critical safety lapses", officials said on Saturday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation pointed to cracks on the runway, water stagnation and excessive rubber deposits among other lapses in its show-cause notice. The DGCA conducted the inspection after an Air India Express flight coming from Dammam in Saudi Arabia had a "tail strike" while landing at the Calicut (Kozhikode) airport on July 2 last year, an official said. A little over a year later, on Friday evening, an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people on board overshot "runway 10" at the Calicut airport in heavy rain and went down 35 feet into a gorge before breaking into two pieces, killing at least 18 people. "After the July 2 incident last year, the DGCA inspected the airport on July 4 and July 5 and found various critical safety lapses," said a senior DGCA official. On July 11, Kozhikode airport director K Srinivasa Rao was issued a show cause notice, added another DGCA official. However, it is not clear if any action was taken against Rao after the show-cause was issued. The show-cause notice, which PTI accessed, said "cracks are observed at runway 28 TDZ (touchdown zone) and along runway C/L (center/left) marking at runway 10 TDZ". The touchdown zone (TDZ) is the part where the aircraft first contacts the surface while landing. The touchdown zone is ahead of the threshold area of the runway. The notice also said "excessive rubber deposit" was observed in the area from runway C/L marking to three metres on both the sides of touchdown zone of runway 28. Similar excessive rubber deposits were found by the DGCA along runway C/L marking of touchdown zone of runway 10, according to the notice. "Water stagnation of about 1.5 metre length was observed on the area between runway edge and intermediate turn pad on runway 28," it said. Besides, the DGCA found several cracks in aircraft stand number 5. It also observed that a "portion of Apron surface" of about 111 metres was damaged, it said. Apron is the area of the airport where aircraft are parked, refuelled and where passengers board. "A steep downward slope of approximately five feet depth is observed immediately after the apron behind aircraft number 1, which needs to be levelled and graded," the notice said. The DGCA observed a shortage of reserve stock of 6,630 litres of Aqueous Film Forming Foam concentrate (AFFF) and 140 kg of "DCP complementary agent" - both are used to put out fires - at the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) station of the airport. Air India Express, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, said on Saturday that three relief flights had been arranged to Kozhikode in Kerala to assist passengers and their family members affected by the plane crash a day ago. Officials said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will go to Kozhikode on Saturday. Officials of the AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau), the DGCA and the flight safety department of the airline have reached the accident site to investigate the accident, said the airline on Saturday morning. Scheduled international passenger flights remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, special repatriation flights have been operated by Air India and Air India Express since May 6 under the Vande Bharat Mission to help stranded people reach their destinations. Private carriers have also operated a certain number of flights under this mission.

DGCA had issued notice to Kozhikode airport in July, 2019 over critical safety lapses

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