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Kozhikode airplane crash: 18 dead and 1 deceased tests positive for Covid-19, relief workers to be quarantined

 On Friday night, an Air India Express flight coming from Dubai carrying 190 passengers crashed as it tried to land in Kozhikode's Calicut International Airport. Due to the extreme torrential rains, the plane skidded off the runway, went down a 35-feet valley, and split into halves.

The cockpit area and cabin suffered extensive damage. So far, 18 people have died in this dreadful accident, including the flight commander, Deepak V Sathe, and co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar. And at least 100 passengers were injured in this whole ordeal. 

The flight was part of the Vande Mataram repatriation program to bring back Indians stranded in other countries. This particular flight was carrying mostly Keralites who were stranded in the UAE after the whole Covid-19 situation. 

The plane made attempts to land twice but was unable to do so due to the heavy rain and high-speed wind which was measured to be 15 knots, according to the tracking sites of the flight. On the third and final attempt, it managed to touch down but due to the bad weather, it landed away from the touchdown point on the runway and was unable to stop in time.

In a PTI report, it seems that last year in July, the Aviation regulator DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport after it found various critical safety lapses.  A senior DGCA official said, "After the July 2 incident last year, the DGCA inspected the airport on July 4 and July 5 and found various critical safety lapses."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the tragedy in a tweet that read, “Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected.”

Kerala Higher Education Minister, KT Jaleel told the media that one of the passengers who passed away, Sudheer Varyath was tested positive for COVID-19. Following the news, all relief workers who assisted in the rescue and relief operations will go in quarantine as a precautionary measure against the rising pandemic. 

Firefighting personnel and hundreds of rescue workers immediately reached the airport and the injured were taken to hospitals and medical colleges in Kozhikode, Kondotty, and Malappuram.

If you need assistance in getting information about passengers who were on the Air India Express AXB1344, you can contact at the following helpline numbers: 
0495-2376901 (Helpline number for relatives of passengers); 0483-2719493 (Control room number at Kozhikode airport); 0097165970303 (Control room number at Sharjah airport in UAE); 009710565463903 (Control room number at Dubai airport); 009710543090572 (Control room number at Dubai airport)

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