Flight was shaking, it was a nightmare, recount survivors

MOST VICTIMS WERE FROM 3 KERALA DISTS

THIRUVANANTHPAURAM/KOZHIKODE: Survivors of the Air India Express plane crash recounted on Saturday the horror and ordeal that unfolded as the aircraft with 190 people on board skidded off the runaway at the Kozhikode airport and broke into two, killing at least 18 people.

It all happened in a flash. Just when they thought they had reached home, their plane fell into a 35-feet gorge in pelting rain, survivors of the crash said on Saturday. “We were happy when we were about to touchdown and I told my wife that the rain was a welcome sign. But our joy was short-lived. Suddenly there were big jerks and the plane was filled with loud cries. I tumbled out of my seat and lost conscious. When I opened my eyes at the hospital, I was happy to see my wife. A pregnant woman, who was sitting beside us, was not so lucky,” said a person requesting anonymity.

Those who survived said chaos prevailed at the accident site as initially passengers could not

KOZHIKODE — 9

Rajeevan Cherakkaparambil (61), Manal Ahamed (25), Sharafudheen (35) Janaki Kunnoth (55) Assan Muhammed Chembai (1), Ramya Muraleedharan (32), Shivathmika (5) Shenobia (40) and Shahira Banu (29).

gauge what happened.

“We did not realise what really happened other than the flight was shaking,” said Ramshad, who was undergoing treatment at a local hospital in Malappuram district.

His wife and daughter escaped with minor injuries.

Vijaymohan, who escaped with minor injuries and is recovering in a private hospital, said he thought it was a nightmare. “I could see heaps of twisted metal spread around when I opened my eyes after the initial shock of the impact,” said Vijayamohan, a resident of Malaparamba. His wife Jameema is admitted in the ICU.

“It was a miracle we limited the damage. The local people were the first to reach the spot and they turned real heroes. They entered the aircraft risking their lives to save others. We have one aim, save maximum lives, and they played stellar role,” said Malappuram district collector K Gopalakrishnan.

Meanwhile, Air India Express said it would send three relief flights were to Kozhikode to assist passengers and their family members affected by the plane crash. Air India chairman and managing director Rajiv Bansal, and Air India Express chief executive officer K Shyam Sundar have already reached Kozhikode, according to a statement.