A shocking accident occurred at Kozhikode Airport in Kerala at 7.41 pm on Friday. Air India flight coming from Dubai was landing on runway number 10 of the airport during heavy rains. The pilot was having trouble landing. Due to this, twice the landing was also postponed. During the landing attempt for the third time, the flight slipped and overtook the runway. The plane fell into a 35-foot deep ditch.
17 people have died in this accident. These include Deepak Vasant Sathe, retired wing commander of the Air Force, and Akhilesh Kumar, the co-pilot who was flying the aircraft. The accident was dangerous. The aircraft turned into debris and broke into two pieces. 123 passengers are injured. Doctors who treat them say that many are in critical condition.
However, airport officials and experts are also saying that thankfully there was no fire in the plane, otherwise more people would have died. Malappuram Collector informed that the rescue operation at the site of the incident has been completed. All have been sent to hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode.
Sathe was awarded the Sword of Honor
The Air India flight AXB-1344 was returning from Dubai under the Vande Bharat Mission. The 190 passengers included 128 men, 46 women, 10 children and 4 crew members, and 2 pilots. Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe, the pilot who died in the accident, was a test pilot in the Air Force. He was a pass out to the NDA and was awarded the prestigious Sword of Honor. His brother also martyred in the war of Kargil and his father also retired from the army.
How did the accident happen?
The Baying 737 plane had a crash landing on the runway. It was raining heavily in the city. According to DGCA, the visibility was 2000 meters. Sliding on runway number 10, the plane went forward and fell into the abyss. ”The images are frightening. The front of the plane looks badly damaged. Thankfully, there was no immediate fire in the plane after the accident, due to which there was heavy rain at that time.
Did the pilot try to save the plane?
Media reports claimed that the plane circled the sky before landing due to bad weather. That is, she did not land on the runway in one go. The pilot tried his best to save the aircraft. Union Minister V Muralitharan said that the pilot landed the plane in the second attempt, but the landing was not successful.
How is the airport where the accident occurred?
Karipur is a tabletop airport. A tabletop is an airport built in a hilly area and where one end of the runway or two ends slope. At such an airport there is a risk of accidents during bad weather. When landing during rains at such an airport, there is a danger of the plane slipping from the runway due to the water deposited on the runway and the rubber deposits of the tires of the previously landed aircraft. It is also called aquaplaning.
Wasn't such a threat revealed earlier?
Last year, DGCA issued a warning regarding the safety of Kozhikode Airport. It said that there is too much rubber deposit on the runway here. This reduces friction and there is a risk of unsafe landing here due to heavy rains.
What is the government doing?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan after the accident.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked the NDRF to immediately reach the spot and start a rescue operation.
CM Vijayan asked the police and fire brigade to immediately reach the spot and provide medical support.
The Consulate General of India in Dubai issued helpline numbers 056 546 3903, 0543090572, 0543090572, 0543090575.
The helpline number of Kozhikode Airport is 0495-2376901.
The DGCA ordered an inquiry into the case.
A similar accident happened 10 years ago in Mangalore
A similar accident took place at Mangalore Airport on 22 May 2010. More than 150 people died in this accident. Even then the plane belonged to Air India Express and was returning from Dubai itself. Mangalore is also a tabletop airport. This means that this airport is atop a hill.
Prime Minister Modi's tweet:
Sad to know about the plane crash in Kozhikode. My condolences to those who lost their lives in the accident. I wish for the injured to recover as soon as possible. I have inquired about the accident from the Chief Minister of Kerala. All responsible authorities are on the spot. All possible help is being provided to the victims.
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