New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people onboard overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport on Friday in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet into a slope before breaking up into two pieces.
He said a formal enquiry will be conducted by AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau).
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the flight continued running to the end of the runway amid heavy rain and “fell down in the valley and broke down in two pieces”.
Emergency Command Centre was immediately activated after the news of the accident. The Emergency Response Team members and GO teams have already been sent to the accident scene, and will render necessary help to assist the emergency services and local authorities, it said.
In a tweet, the Minister said. “As per the flight manifest there were 190 people on flight AXB-1344 including 174 adult passengers,10 infants, 4 cabin crew & 2 pilots. Unfortunately, 16 people have lost their lives. I offer my heartfelt condolences to their next of kin & pray for speedy recovery of the injured.”