Air India Express plane breaks into two after landing in Kerala, at least 2 feared dead
It was a Vande Bharat repatriation flight operated by the government to bring Indians home during international travel restrictions due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
By Reuters
Chennai – At least two people were feared dead and 35 injured when an Air India Express passenger plane overshot the runway and broke into two after landing in the city of Calicut in Kerala in heavy rain on Friday, police said.
The Boeing-737 plane flying from Dubai had 191 passengers and crew on board, the civil aviation ministry said in a statement. There were 10 infants on board.
“We believe there are two people dead, and 35 injured, we are still in the middle of the rescue effort,” area police superintendent Abdul Karim said.
The plane’s fuselage split into two as it fell into a valley 30 feet below, authorities said.
“As per the initial reports rescue operations are on and passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care,” the civil aviation ministry said in the statement. There was no fire on board, it said.
It was a repatriation flight operated by the government to bring Indians home during international travel restrictions due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Reporting by Mumbai and Delhi bureau; Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Euan Rocha, Louise Heavens and Hugh Lawson
