An aircraft carrying at least 190 people suddenly ran off the runway at Kozhikode airport in southern India on Friday, 7 August. The death toll was not officially established, but at least 14 people died in the crash and dozens were injured.
The heavy rain slowed down the rescue operation on Friday after the crash of an Air India Express plane. At least 14 people died and 15 were seriously injured.
At least fourteen people were killed and fifteen seriously injured when an aircraft left the runway after landing in heavy rain in southern India, a senior local police officer, Abdul Karim, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday (7 August).
“We have been told that all those who survived the accident were injured,” another police official, Sujith Das, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), referring to “at least 89 people” who are currently in hospital in Kozhikode, in the state of Kerala, where the tragedy occurred.
Television footage showed shredded pieces of fuselage, but no fire was visible. A television station reported a problem with the plane’s landing gear. Air India Express said that its plane from Dubai was carrying more than 190 people, including the crew.
Rescue slowed down by rain
A state congressman said the pilot perished in the accident, while the media reported dozens of hospitalized passengers, more than 20 of whom were in critical condition. Dozens of ambulances were mobilized to the scene of the tragedy, according to the media.
Air India Express said in a statement that “no fire was reported at the time of landing” of the plane; which was carrying 184 passengers, including 10 infants, two pilots, and five-cabin crew.
“According to the same source, “Rescue operations are underway and passengers are being transported to hospitals. “The rain … complicates [the situation],” said an anonymous rescue official. Television footage showed rescuers working in the dark and spraying the wreckage of the plane with water. Torrential rains have been falling on Kerala for several days.
Source: Le Monde
