Air India plane crash survivors and locals yet to overcome the shock

Thirty-four-year-old Renjith Panangad still shivers when he recollects the horrifying experience onboard AIE IX 1344 that crashed at Kozhikode international airport in Kerala on Friday evening.

“I really thought that it was my end as the flight went haywire and nosedived. After the touchdown, the aircraft went haywire as if it was bulldozing. Passengers were screaming, unaware of what was happening and I almost lost senses when the flight fell into a valley,” Renjith who is recovering from the head injuries at Beach Hospital in Kozhikode told DH over phone.

A native of Thayannur in Kasargod district, Renjith was among the 50 odd persons who were returning either on job loss or expiry of visa. He recollected that as the flight was landing, the crew only gave the usual message to fasten seat-belts. Renjith was sitting near the wings and he escaped with minor injuries on head.