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Kerala plane crash: 16 dead after Air India plane breaks in two at Calicut Kerala plane crash: 17 dead after Air India plane breaks in two at Calicut
(about 3 hours later)
An Air India Express plane with 191 people on board has crashed at an airport in the southern state of Kerala, killing at least 16 people, officials say. An Air India Express plane with 190 people on board has crashed at an airport in the southern state of Kerala, killing at least 17 people, officials say.
The Boeing 737, en route from Dubai, skidded off the runway in rain and broke in two after landing at Calicut airport, aviation officials said.The Boeing 737, en route from Dubai, skidded off the runway in rain and broke in two after landing at Calicut airport, aviation officials said.
The flight was repatriating Indians stranded by the coronavirus crisis.The flight was repatriating Indians stranded by the coronavirus crisis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "pained by the plane accident".Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "pained by the plane accident".
MK Raghavan, a lawmaker from Calicut, told the BBC at least 16 people died in the crash. The rescue operation at the crash site has now been completed and survivors have been taken to hospitals in Calicut and Malappuram, according to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Most people on board the Boeing 737 jet have been evacuated, with dozens of them taken to hospital with injuries, some serious, authorities said. Dozens of people were injured, 15 of them seriously, a senior police officer said.
"We have at least 89 people, many of them with serious injuries, admitted at different Kozhikode hospitals. The ambulances are still coming in," a senior police official, Sujith Das, told AFP news agency. Air India Express said the two pilots were among the dead.
The airline said there were 184 passengers, including 10 children, and seven crew members on board flight IX-1344 when it crashed in rainy conditions at Calicut, also known as Kozhikode.
What do we know about the crash?What do we know about the crash?
The plane attempted to land just before 20:00 local time (15:30 BST) on Friday, as heavy monsoon-season rainfall lashed Kerala. Flight IX 1134 was carrying 184 passengers, including 10 infants, and six crew.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the plane fell into a valley and broke in two after skidding off the end of the runway. No fire was reported at the time of landing, the aviation regulator said. The aircraft crashed at 19:40 local time (14:10 GMT) on Friday, as it attempted to land for a second time at Calicut International Airport. The first attempt was aborted by the pilots because of the heavy monsoon-season rainfall lashing Kerala.
In a tweet India's Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, said the aircraft "overshot the runway in rainy conditions", then plunged down a 35ft (10.6m) slope, before breaking in two. India's Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, tweeted that the aircraft "overshot the runway in rainy conditions", then plunged down a 35ft (10.6m) slope, before breaking in two.
He said a formal inquiry would be carried out by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).He said a formal inquiry would be carried out by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Images broadcast by Indian media show the aircraft broken in two pieces at the bottom of the slope, with people searching through the wreckage. The director general of India's National Disaster Response Force, S N Pradhan, said Calicut airport had a "table-top runway" and that the aircraft fell into "a ditch" after skidding across it.
The aircraft circled the airport several times and made two attempts to land, NDTV reported, citing flight-tracking data. He said the impact with the bottom of the ditch caused the fuselage to break in two, and that the front half was "very badly mangled and damaged".
Mr Puri told broadcaster DD News that first responders were able to rescue the passengers because the plane did not catch fire. Several people had to be cut free.
At the time of the plane's descent, Kerala was being battered by heavy rains, which are usual in India at this time of year, due to the seasonal monsoon.At the time of the plane's descent, Kerala was being battered by heavy rains, which are usual in India at this time of year, due to the seasonal monsoon.
Earlier on Friday, dozens of people were feared dead in Kerala's Idukki district after monsoon-season floods triggered a landslide.Earlier on Friday, dozens of people were feared dead in Kerala's Idukki district after monsoon-season floods triggered a landslide.
What reaction has there been?What reaction has there been?
India's prime minister tweeted to express his sympathy for "those who lost their loved ones" in the crash. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to express his sympathy for "those who lost their loved ones" in the crash.
The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, said he spoke on the phone to Mr Modi, who told him the government would provide medical and rescue support. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said: "Very sad to know of this mishap. All our feelings are with the passengers and their families."
Rahul Gandhi, who is an MP for a district in Kerala, said he was "shocked at the devastating news of the plane mishap in Kozhikode".Rahul Gandhi, who is an MP for a district in Kerala, said he was "shocked at the devastating news of the plane mishap in Kozhikode".
What other major plane crashes have happened in India? Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan also expressed their condolences, as did India's cricket captain, Virat Kohli.
Have there been similar plane crashes in India?
Plane crashes have happened before during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September and wreaks havoc across south Asia every year.Plane crashes have happened before during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September and wreaks havoc across south Asia every year.
In May 2010, 158 people died when an Air India Express flight overshot Mangalore airport runway and crashed.In May 2010, 158 people died when an Air India Express flight overshot Mangalore airport runway and crashed.
A similar incident happened in July 2019 in Mangalore, prompting an inquiry. A similar incident happened in July 2019 in Mangalore, prompting an inquiry, but causing no fatalities.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? If it is safe to do so please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? If it is safe to do so please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.
Or use the form below:Or use the form below: