3 Killed As Air India Plane Breaks In Two At Kerala Airport

3 Killed As Air India Plane Breaks In Two At Kerala Airport

An Air India Express plane crashed in the South Indian state of Kerala after skidding off the runway while landing at Kozhikode Calicut International Airport.


A pilot and two passengers have reportedly died in the incident with at least 35 others injured. The flight landed in heavy rain, overshot the runway, fell down into a valley and broke into two, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.


The plane, which is a Boeing 737, had 174 passengers on board, according to a statement of the ministry of aviation.


"Air India Express flight IX 1344 operated by B737 aircraft from Dubai to Calicut overshot runway at Kozhikode at 1941 hrs tonight. No fire reported at the time of landing," the DGCA statement said.


Images and video circulating on social media show the aircraft broken up in two pieces with rescue operations underway.


Local reports said that the aircraft did not catch fire and that passengers were being evacuated.


The Blood Donors India volunteer group has issued an urgent plea for people to come forward to donate blood at two hospitals in the city of Kozhikode.