Updates| ₹10 lakh as interim relief to families of deceased: aviation minister

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri lauded the Air India Express pilot Deepak Sathe and said the aircraft was being operated by the one of our most experienced & distinguished commanders.

In fact, he had landed on this airfield as many as 27 times, including this year, the minister said.

"Table top is everywhere. It is true it poses some challenges to pilot. We can wait for the outcome of the probe. We learnt lesson from Mangaluru accident and it is too early to compare with the mishap that happened 10 years ago," Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters.

In an address to the media after taking stock of the situation, the Union said minister confirmed that 18 people, including both pilots, died in the plane crash while 149 people being treated in the hospital.

"We are working closely with the state government to alleviate the suffering of the affected," he said.

He also informed that two black boxes have been retrieved and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a probe.

Union minister of civil aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said the pilot of the Air India Express flight was a coveted professional and his timely intervention reduced the intensity of tragedy.

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri took stock if the situation at the Kozhikode plane crash site. He has announced ₹10 lakh relief announced for families of deceased.

The toll in the Air India Express flight crash has climbed to 18.

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri reached Kozhikode plane crash site to take stock of the situation and status of implementation of relief measures.

"Will hold consultations with senior civil aviation officials & professionals, He said, according to ANI.

One of the passengers who died in Kozhikode flight crash on Friday has tested positive for Covid-19, Kerala minister KT Jaleel was quoted as saying news agency PTI.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Saturday reached the Kozhikode Airport where an Air India Express flight with 190 people on board crashed on Friday evening.

At least 18 people, including both pilots, died in the crash.

According to officials quoted by news agency PTI, aviation regulator DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport on July 11 last year on finding "various critical safety lapses."

The DGCA pointed to cracks on the runway, water stagnation and excessive rubber deposits among other lapses in its show-cause notice, PTI reported.

Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder that was recovered from the aircraft by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will be brought to Delhi for further investigation, ANI reported.

Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kamal Haasan were among many who took to Twitter to express grief and condole the loss of lives in Air India Express plane crash.

"My heart goes out to the passengers and crew members onboard the #AirIndia flight. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Thoughts and prayers," tweeted Khan.

"A terrible tragedy .. Air India crash in Kerala, Kozhikode airport, plane skids off the runway on landing in heavy rain .. Prayers," Bachchan wrote on the microblogging site.

MoS external affairs V Muraleedharan, who reached the Kerala plane crash site early this morning, said he saw debris and the aircraft broken into two pieces.

He added that some part of aircraft was torn apart during rescue operations.

Inspection is underway and the the DGCA has called for an enquiry, he told ANI.

The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) has been recovered from the aircraft and floorboard is being cut to retrieve Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said.

"Deeply saddened by the news of Air India Express aircraft's accident in Kerala, India last night. Nepal extends deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those injured," Pradeep Gyawali, Nepal's minister of foreign affairs said in a tweet.

Under the Vande Bharat Mission, the Air India Express flight was coming from Dubai carrying 190 passengers, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

"Pilot must have tried to bring the flight to the end of tabletop airport's runway where it skidded due to slippery conditions owing to monsoon," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.