Air India Crash: 'Pilot Has Landed On This Runway 20 Times Before', Aviation Minister Visits Mishap Site In Kozhikode

The Civil Aviation minister warned against speculations regarding the cause of the accident and said that investigation is going on

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri visited the Air India plane crash site in Kerala's Kozhikode along with CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and other cabinet ministers. The Union Minister said that the plane crashed while attempting to land amid heavy rain on a tabletop runway at Kerala's Kozhikode airport late yesterday evening, was carrying fuel to attempt a diversionary landing elsewhere. ALSO READ|Humanity Persists! Locals Line Up To Donate Blood For Kozhikode Plane Crash Survivors Despite Heavy Rains & Covid Risk Puri warned people against speculations as the investigation is still underway into the tragic accident and there are several questions still unanswered. He said that as per records the pilot had landed on this runway 20 times Taking to Twitter, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, ''My heart goes out to the families & friends of the 18 people who lost their lives in the air accident involving @FlyWithIX Flight IX-1344 in Kozhikode last evening & offer my heartfelt condolences. Reasons for the mishap are being investigated.''

My heart goes out to the families & friends of the 18 people who lost their lives in the air accident involving @FlyWithIX Flight IX-1344 in Kozhikode last evening & offer my heartfelt condolences.

Reasons for the mishap are being investigated. pic.twitter.com/awEGpU9EmK — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 8, 2020

"Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ill-fated aircraft have been retrieved. AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) is conducting investigations," said Puri. The investigation team has found a black box in the crashed Air India Express flight from Dubai to Karipur. The digital flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were also recovered. This information will help the investigation team to find out how the plane crashed. Addressing the media after visiting the crash site today, Puri also offered "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the 18 people who died and announced ₹ 10 lakh compensation to families of those killed, ₹ 2 lakh for those seriously injured and ₹ 50,000 for those with minor injuries.

Visited Kozhikode Medical College hospital with my colleague Sh @VMBJP Ji. Senior doctors briefed us on the status of various people admitted for treatment.

149 people have been admitted to various hospitals. 23 have been discharged while 3 are critically injured. pic.twitter.com/D9RrZnK8Rg — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 8, 2020

Soon after visiting the accident site, the Union Minister visited the injured who are admitted to hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode.