AI Express plane skids off runway with 191 on board, breaks apart; 18 dead
At least 18 people died after an Air India Express plane carrying 190 passengers and crew skidded off the runway and broke apart while attempting to land Friday in Kerala’s Kozhikode.
The Boeing Co 737 operating as Flight 1344 from Dubai came to rest in a valley near a hilltop airport in Kozhikode. The plane touched down with a tail wind, according to archived local weather data, which would be counter to the usual practice of landing into the wind for more control. The area has been hit by torrential rains since Thursday, India’s weather office said.
Most passengers were workers returning home after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, while others were visitors who were stranded. India has banned scheduled international commercial service because of Covid-19 and only allowed repatriation flights with special permission from regulators.
