Kozhikode plane crash: Air India Express says 56 injured passengers discharged from hospitals

Around 56 passengers who were injured in the Air India Plane crash in Kozhikode were discharged from various hospitals after they recovered completely. Air India Boeing 737, operating flight IX-1344 from Dubai to Calicut skidded off the tabletop runway and fell into a deep gorge killing 18 people on Friday night.

New Delhi:The Air India Express said on Monday that 56 passengers, who were injured in the plane crash in Kozhikode, have been discharged from various hospitals after obtaining complete fitness.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said on Saturday that 149 people have been admitted to hospitals, 23 have been discharged, while three are critically injured in the B 737 plane crash.

The Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people, including a six-member crew, overshot the tabletop runway during landing at the Kozhikode airport in heavy rain on Friday night, fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into two, killing 18 people, including the pilots.

"The Chief Executive Officer, Air India Express Ltd as well as Regional Head-Southern Region continue to remain in Calicut (Kozhikode) to render continuous support to the family members," the airline said in a statement on Monday.

READ: Mortal remains of late Captain DV Sathe brought to Air India building in Mumbai

"As on date, 56 injured passengers have been discharged from various hospitals after obtaining their complete fitness," it added. Air India Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of national carrier Air India, has only B 737 aircraft in its fleet. The airline said on Sunday that the mortal remains of 16 passengers killed in the plane crash have been handed over to their families, and added that authorities were investigating the accident.

Pilot DV Sathe and Co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar also lost their lives during the crash.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victims of the Air India Express crash, adding that the medical expenses of those under treatment will be taken over by the state government.

READ: Kozhikode crash: Airlines staff gather at Delhi airport to pay respect to deceased co-pilot

With PTI inputs