Shemir Vadakkan Pathappiriyam was overjoyed when he learned that his family survived the horrific Air India Express crash. Seven of his and his brother’s family members were aboard the flight. An Air India Express flight part of Vande Bharat Mission from Dubai to Kozhikode with over 180 passengers on board skid off the runway and crashed while landing at Kozhikode in Kerala. The Air India flight was about to land when this accident took place. Heavy rainfall and wet runway at the Kozhikkode airport might be the reason for aircraft skid.
Dubai-Kozhikode flight X1344, a Boeing 737, had around 184 passengers on board. It landed at around 7:41 pm at Kozhikode airport. Airline sources suggest that it appeared to overshoot the runway. The Air India Express flight skid off the runway and split into two while landing. According to news agency PTI, 18 deaths have been recorded so far, including both the pilots.
Also Read: Expat In Dubai Pays AED 68,000 For Flight Of 61 Indians In Memory Of Late Son
Kozhikode’s Karipur Airport is a tabletop airport like the one in Mangaluru. Air India Express said in a statement “The Air India flight (IX-1344) from Dubai carrying 174 passengers skidded during landing at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode (Kerala) today. There were six crew members on board, including two pilots”.
A Miraculous Escape
Since Friday evening, Shemir- a resident of Dubai Silicon Oasis made numerous calls to trauma centres and hospitals to find out the whereabouts of his family who were aboard the flight. “The news came as a real shock and we couldn’t contact them for a long time,” Shemir told PTI.
Finally, when Shemir spoke to his wife, she said she and all the other family members were rescued by the local people at the site of the crash. Shemir’s wife was travelling with their two daughters and a son. Also abroad the flight was Shemir’s brother’s wife, along with her daughter and a son. Shemir’s family was wounded in the crash, but they escaped with minor injuries. The family is now admitted in three different hospitals in Calicut and Malappuram in Kerala.
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft was carrying 184 people, including 10 infants, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew. On another note, Expat In Dubai Pays AED 68,000 For Flight Of 61 Indians In Memory Of Late Son.
MEA Launches 24*7 Helplines For Those Affected
The Ministry of External Affairs has launched helplines that will remain open 24*7 for those inflicted by the Air India Express flight crash. Anurag Srivastava, an MEA official has tweeted the following helpline numbers: 1800 118 797, +91 11 23012113, +91 11 23014104, and +91 11 23017905. Those affected can also email at covid19@mea.gov.in or fax on +91 11 23018158.
We are deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Express Flight No IX 1344 at Kozhikode.
MEA helplines are open 24×7:
? 1800 118 797
? +91 11 23012113
?+91 11 23014104
?+91 11 23017905
Fax: +91 11 23018158
Email: covid19@mea.gov.in— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) August 7, 2020
On that note, in case you’re planning to travel to India, Airline Ticket Rates In UAE Could Drop In September.