An Air India Express Boeing 737-800, registration VT-AXH performing repatriation flight IX-1344 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Kozhikode (India) with 184 passengers and 6 crew, landed on Kozhikode's runway 10 but went past the end of the runway, went past the runway end safety area (150meter/500 feet) and fell into a valley at 19:41L (14:11Z) coming to a stop about 100 feet below the runway and about 245 meters/800 feet past the runway end. 18 people including both pilots died in the accident, 138 received injuries of varying degree with 15 of them in critical condition. Two passengers died later while in hospital care.
Rescue and recovery
Police reported while rescue efforts are still in progress there are at least two fatalities and 35 injuries.
Later in the evening Police reported there were 16 fatalities, 15 injuries in critical condition and 123 injuries.
A congressman reported both pilots were killed in the accident.
Authorities report around 16:44Z (22:14L) most of the occupants have been rescued, there are more than 50 injuries with 15 of them in critical condition.
In the late evening (India's time) India's Aviation Minister reported 16 people have been killed in the accident. All survivors have been rescued from the aircraft and were taken to hospitals.
The chairman of India's DGCA reported 16 people have lost their lives in the accident.
The airline reported: "Air India Express flight IX 1344 operated by B737 aircraft from Dubai to Calicut overshot runway at Kozhikode at 1941 hrs tonight. No fire reported at the time of landing. There are 174 passengers, 10 Infants, 2 Pilots and 5 cabin Crew on board the aircraft. As per the initial reports rescue operations are on and Passengers are being taken to hospital for medical care. We will soon share the update in this regard."
Around midnight Aug 7th/Aug 8th 2020 (local time) the airline reported there were 174 passengers, 10 infants and 6 crew on board. Both pilots have died in the accident. Search and resuce operations have been completed.
On Aug 8th 2020 (UTC) the airline reported both pilots and 15 passengers died in the accident, all cabin crew are safe however.
On Aug 8th 2020 Kerala's Chief Minister's Office reported one victim of the accident has been tested positive for Corona so far, all victims including the deceased will be tested for Corona. All members of the rescue team needed to be sent into quarantine.
On Aug 8th 2020 another passenger succumbed to the injuries.
On Aug 22nd 2020 it became known two more passengers have succumbed to their injuries.
Official Statements
India's DGCA reported: "Air India Express AXB1344, B737 Dubai to Calicut, person on board 191, visibility 2000 meter, heavy rain, after landing Runway 10, continued running to end of runway and fall down in the valley and broke down in two pieces." The DGCA have ordered an investigation.
On Aug 8th 2020 India's Aviation Minister reported both black boxes have been recovered. A few victims are still in critical condition.
On Aug 9th 2020 India's Aviation Ministry reported that according to testimony by the tower controller the aircraft did not touch down until abeam taxiway C (editorial note: about 1030 meters/3380 feet past the runway threshold) and anticipated the aircraft might overrun the runway and therefore instructed emergency services to enter the runway and follow the aircraft. When he did not see the aircraft at the runway end, he activated the crash button, tower instructed the emergency services to look down into the valley. The minister added also, that the aircraft had still sufficient fuel on board to divert to their alternate aerodrome and land there with more than minimum fuel required.
On Aug 25th 2020 the NTSB announced, they have appointed an accredited representative to assist the AAIB of India with the investigation according to ICAO Annex 13.
Passenger testimonies
On Aug 9th 2020 a passenger seated in the aft cabin reported that following the go around the aircraft positioned for another approach and touched down, however, did not appear to slow down but to accelerate again. After touchdown the aircraft overshot the end of the runway and went down the cliff, all of that happened within 15 seconds. The passenger walked away from the wreckage nearly uninjured with just a bumped head and bleeding lips. He drove home by himself.
Other evidence
According to ADS-B Data the aircraft had attempted one approach to runway 28 about 20 minutes prior to the landing but had gone around from about 2700 feet.
Kozhikode's runway 10/28 is 2845 meters/9330 feet long and features ILS approaches for both runway 10 and 28 as well as VOR approaches to both runways. In addition a NDB approach to runway 10 is published. Neither of the approaches have been NOTAMed unavailable. The runway sits on a flattened hilltop, a drop off of 35 meters/114 feet exists past the runway 10 end.
Relevant NOTAM:
A1819/20 NOTAMN
Q) VOMF/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/
A) VOCL B) 2008071410 C) 2008072130 EST
E) RWY 10/28 NOT AVBL DUE ACFT ACCIDENT
Weather radar and flight track superimposed show large cell over Kozikhode at time of arrival (Video: Simon Proud):
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZhYUwKp6UI |