Watch: Eyewitness recounts Air India Express plane crash at Kozhikode airport

A CISF assistant sub inspector narrated the horrific Kozhikode plane crash. ASI Ajeet Singh is an eyewitness of the Air India Express flight crash. "I was on duty last evening when the incident happened. Around 7:30 pm, I went for a third round. I saw an AI Express flight falling down towards parameter road. I immediately informed the control room. By the time I informed control room, the aircraft had already crashed. Soon, rescue members reached the accident spot. We opened Gate no. 8 and let 25-30 volunteers in along with a JCB. We CISF personnel joined the rescue operation. Ambulance reached Gate no. 8 and rushed victims to hospitals," said CISF ASI, Ajeet Singh. Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited crash site and took stock of the status and implementation of relief measures. He said, "18 people including 2 pilots have died. It's very unfortunate. 127 injured are in hospital, rest have been discharged. This was a Vande Bharat flight with 190 passengers onboard. Weather conditions were unfavourable." Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan visited Kozhikode Medical College and met injured passengers who are admitted there. Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot tabletop runway at Kozhikode airport on Friday. The flight fell into a valley, 35 feet below, while landing in heavy rains and broke into two.

Kerala landslide | 'Death toll mounts to 26, 39 missing': NDRF chief

Heavy rains have caused havoc in parts of Kerala. NDRF chief SN Pradhan spoke on the massive landslide that occurred in Idukki district. Pradhan informed that the death toll has climbed to 26 and as many as 39 people were still missing. "We recovered nine more bodies from mound of debris and slush. The death toll stands at 26 while 39 people are still missing. A total of 78 people were living in that colony. The operations will go on. Our commandant of the battalion Rekha is camping on the site and is supervising the rescue operations. As per the state government's requirements, nine teams will continue to work in flood and rain related incidents in Kerala," Pradhan said. On Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert in Kozhikode district. It had also predicted rainfall in different parts of the state. On Saturday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the monsoon fury continues to be severe in the state.

Kozhikode plane crash: Mortal remains of co-pilot reach native place

Mortal remains of co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar reached his native place in Mathura on August 09. Akhilesh Kumar lost his life in the flight crash landing incident at Kozhikode in Kerala on August 07. 18 people including 2 pilots died in the tragedy.

Kozhikode plane crash: Air India Express employees pay tribute to fallen co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar

Air India Express employees paid tribute to Akhilesh Kumar in Delhi. Akhilesh lost his life with 17 others in Kozhikode plane crash on August 07. The body of the deceased was brought to Delhi from Kochi. About 200 Air India Express employees paid tribute to the fallen co-pilot. An Air India Express plane crashed in Kerala after skidding off the runway and breaking into two while landing at Kozhikode Calicut International Airport.Akhilesh Kumar's Brother-in-law, Vijay said, "Our last conversation with him was a video call on the day of Rakshabandhan because Rakhi could not reach him, his flight was going to come on the August15-16, after that he could meet us." Akhilesh Kumar's mortal remains will be taken to his native place in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

Wife of co-pilot, killed in Kozhikode plane crash, to deliver child soon: Deceased's cousin

Basudev, cousin of co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar who lost his life in the air crash incident at Kozhikode on August 07 expressed sadness and informed pilot's wife is expecting to deliver their child in next few days. "He was a very humble, polite, and well-behaved person. His wife is expecting to deliver their child in the next 15-17 days. He joined Air India in 2017 and had come home last, before lockdown," his cousin said.

Jumbo jets used to land on Karipur runway after fixing issues in 2019: AAI Chairman

Speaking about the recent air crash incident in Kozhikode, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Chairman, Arvind Singh informed that jumbo jets used to land at Karipur Airport after several issues were fixed in 2019. "Directorate General of Civil Aviation had some issues with the runway in 2015, but after resolving those issues, clearance was given to it in 2019. The jumbo jets of Air India also used to land there," Chairman Arvind Singh informed. At least 18 people have lost their lives in the mishap so far. More than 100 injured are being treated at a hospital.

Air India Express crash: Investigators find black box data

Friday’s flight was chartered by the Indian government to repatriate workers stranded by the pandemic for months.

More than a dozen killed in 'devastating' India plane crash

Officials say 18 people killed and many injured after Air India Express flight skids off runway in city of Kozhikode.

The 2 other 'dangerous airfields' in India: Capt Ranganathan on Kerala crash

A day after the deadly plane crash in Kerala's Kozhikode, Captain Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation safety consultant, warns that other airports in India may see similar mishaps. Speaking to Hindustan Times senior editor Aditi Prasad, he said that Patna and Jammu are also 'dangerous airfields' and continue to operate despite flagging of safety issues. He also explained how 'tabletop' airfields, i.e. those which are constructed by flattening a hill, can be unsafe, mainly due to lack of extra space for airplanes in case of an emergency. Capt Ranganathan also explained why the Air India Express plane in Kozhikode didn't catch fire but broke in half, thereby preventing a higher casualty count. If the plane's wings had gotten damaged and fuel had spilt, then the chances of a fire breaking out would've been higher, he said. On August 7, at least 18 people died, including the two pilots, of a passenger plane which tried to land in Kozhikode amid inclement weather. It overshot the runway and fell into a valley. It was a part of the government's Vande Bharat mission, ferrying home Indians who were stranded in Dubai amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The tragedy occurred 10 years after a similar mishap in Mangalore. Watch the full video for more.

Kerala plane crash 'murder, not accident': Expert who flagged safety issues

Aviation safety consultant Captain Mohan Ranganathan commented on the Kozhikode plane crash which killed at least 18 people, including the two pilots. Speaking to Hindustan Times senior editor Aditi Prasad, he said that this tragedy was 'murder, not an accident'. Capt Ranganathan was part of a panel which had submitted a report around 9 years ago highlighting risks at the Kozhikode airport. He said that the authorities knew that it was a dangerous airfield, and yet things were 'swept under the carpet'. He accused the top officials in the aviation sector - including the minister and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation - of being 'clueless'. Captain Ranganathan said that corruption in the civil aviation sector is very high, and that is why people 'get away with murder'. On August 7, an Air India Express plane overshot the runway at the Kozhikode airport and split in half after falling into a valley. At least 18 people, including passengers and crew members, were killed. The flight was a part of the government's Vande Bharat mission, bringing home Indians stranded in Dubai due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

7 dead after fire breaks out at COVID-19 facility hotel in AP's Vijayawada

7 people lost their lives after a fire broke out at a hotel in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada on August 09. The hotel was attached as a COVID-19 facility with a hospital. Fire tenders rushed to the spot. 30 people have been rescued so far from the hotel. More details awaited.

Manicurist: Client Knowingly Exposed COVID-19

Although nail salons are reopening nationwide, COVID-19 is still very much an ongoing pandemic. In Washington, under the state's guidelines for personal service providers, that includes nail salons, clients "must self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 before arriving at the service provider location." But a nail technician named Taylor recently shared a since-removed Facebook post with a screenshot of a text-message conversation she says she had with a customer.