Kozhikode: An Air India flight from Dubai to Calicut International airport skidded off the runway at the Karipur airport at 7.41 pm on Friday. The Air Indian flight skidded off the runway at the airport while landing in heavy rain.

The Air India flight front portion split into two in the accident, said one airline officer. The Air India Flight take off at Dubai at 2.14 pm with 191 people on board -174 passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and five cabin crew. DGCA has ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter.

An “Air India flight from Dubai to Calicut overshot runway at Kozhikode at 7.41 hrs Friday night. No fire reported at the time of landing.  As per the initial reports rescue operations are on and  Passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care,” a statement from Rajeev Jain, Additional DG, Media, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said. Pilot Captain Deepak Vasanth Sathe, an ex-IAF Wing commander, has died in the accident. Airport sources mentioned that there was at least 11 other casualties. Nearly 50 were grievously injured. The injured were shifted to nearby hospital.

Rescue operations are progressing. A control room has been opened at airport. The helpline number is 04832719493. It had been raining heavily at the time of the accident.

“PM Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on phone about Karipur plane crash. CM informed PM that a team of officials including Kozhikode & Malappuram District Collectors & IG Ashok Yadav have arrived at the airport & participating in the rescue operation,” Kerala CMO said in a statement. NDRF team and 20 ambulances reached to the airport for rescue operations.

       Kerala chief minister pinarayi vijayan expressed shock over the tragic mishap of the Air India Express at Kozhikode airport this evening. The CM asked all govt agencies to engage in rescue operations using all government facilities.