Flight Safety Information August 7, 2020 - No. 160 In This Issue Air India Express 737-800 breaks up in Kozhikode excursion At Least 16 Dead, Dozens Injured After Air India Plane Skids Off Runway Accident: India Express B738 at Kozhikode on Aug 7th 2020, overran runway and fell into valley An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 suffered a runway excursion on landing at Kozhikode Airport Air India Express 737-800 breaks up in Kozhikode excursion https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boeing_737-8HJ,_Air_India_Express_AN1157698.jpg Both pilots of an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 are among 17 fatalities after the aircraft suffered a runway excursion and broke up after landing at Kozhikode. The airline has disclosed that 190 occupants, including six crew members, were on board the jet. Neither pilot survived the accident, the carrier says, although the four cabin crew did. It has confirmed 17 fatalities. Air India Express identifies the aircraft as VT-GHK, and states that it was operating the IX1344 service from Dubai. "We regret that there has been an incident regarding our aircraft," it says, adding that the jet "overshot" the runway. Images circulating on social media indicate that the Boeing 737 has been extensively damaged, with its cockpit separating, as it came to rest on rough ground. NOTAM information from Kozhikode states that runway 10/28 is unavailable "due aircraft accident". The airline says the aircraft landed at 19:41 on 7 August, which means the arrival took place in darkness, about 50min after sunset. The type of approach conducted has yet to be clarified. Meteorological data from Kozhikode airport indicates it had been experiencing thunderstorms shortly before the accident, and that reduced visibility and rain showers prevailed at the time of the landing. Cirium fleets data shows the aircraft is less than two years old, having been delivered to the carrier in September 2018. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/air-india-express-737-800-breaks-up-in-kozhikode-excursion/139683.article Back to Top At Least 16 Dead, Dozens Injured After Air India Plane Skids Off Runway The Boeing 737 split in two while landing Friday in heavy rain in southern India. NEW DELHI (AP) - A special evacuation flight bringing people home to India who had been trapped abroad because of the coronavirus skidded off a runway and split in two while landing Friday in heavy rain in the southern state of Kerala, killing at least 16 passengers and injuring 123 more, police said. Abdul Karim, a senior Kerala state police officer, said the dead included one of the pilots of the two-year-old Boeing 737-800 flying for Air India Express airline. He said at least 15 of the injured were in critical condition, and that rescue operations were over. The NDTV news channel said the plane flew from Dubai to Kozhikode, also called Calicut, in Kerala, India's southernmost state. No fire was reported on the Boeing 737 aircraft after it landed and broke into two pieces, Rajiv Jain, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Ministry, said. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S. Puri said in a statement that the flight "overshot the runway in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet (10.6 meters) into a slope before breaking up into two pieces." An inquiry will be conducted by the ministry's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, he said. Dubai-based aviation consultant Mark Martin said that while it was too early to determine the cause of the crash, annual monsoon conditions appeared to be a factor. "Low visibility, wet runway, low cloud base, all leading to very poor braking action is what looks like led to where we are at the moment with this crash," Martin said, calling for the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to assist with the Indian government's investigation. It was a repatriation flight carrying Indian citizens back to the country, officials said. Regular commercial flights have been halted in India because of the coronavirus outbreak. There were 174 adult passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew on board the aircraft, Jain said. Amitabh Kant, who heads the government's planning commission, said the runway is on a hilltop with deep gorges on either side, making it difficult to land. "The incident happened because of heavy rains and poor visibility. This is truly devastating," he told NDTV. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was "pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode," and that he had spoken to Kerala's top elected official. Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India. The worst air disaster in India was on Nov. 12, 1996, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhastan Airlines Flight near Charki Dadri in Haryana state, killing all 349 on board the two planes. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/air-india-express-skids-runway_n_5f2d86bfc5b6e96a22b23448 Back to Top Accident: India Express B738 at Kozhikode on Aug 7th 2020, overran runway and fell into valley An Air India Express Boeing 737-800, registration VT-AXH performing 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 and fell into a valley at 19:41ÖL (14:11Z) coming to a stop about 50 feet below the runway. 16 people including both pilots died in the accident, 138 received injuries of varying degree with 15 of them in critical condition. 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. 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. 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. 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 Metars: VOCL 071530Z 21005KT 2000 -RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/23 Q1010 BECMG 3000 -RA= VOCL 071500Z 21005KT 2000 -RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/23 Q1009 BECMG 3000 -RA= VOCL 071430Z 24011KT 2000 -RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/23 Q1009 TEMPO 1500 -RA BR= VOCL 071400Z 26012KT 2000 -RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/23 Q1008 TEMPO 1500 -RA BR= VOCL 071330Z 27013KT 1500 -TSRA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/23 Q1008 NOSIG= VOCL 071300Z 20006KT 1500 -TSRA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/24 Q1007 NOSIG= VOCL 071230Z 02003KT 2000 -RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/24 Q1007 NOSIG= VOCL 071200Z 31006KT 1500 RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/24 Q1007 NOSIG= VOCL 071130Z 36008KT 4000 -RA SCT003 SCT012 FEW025CB OVC080 24/24 Q1006 TEMPO 3000 RA= http://avherald.com/h?article=4daf960f&opt=0 Back to Top An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 suffered a runway excursion on landing at Kozhikode Airport, India Date: Friday 7 August 2020 Time: 19:40 Type: Boeing 737-8HG (WL) Operator: Air India Express Registration: VT-AXH C/n / msn: 36323/2108 First flight: 2006-11-15 (13 years 9 months) Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-7B27 Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: 6 Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: 184 Total: Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 190 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Kozhikode-Calicut Airport (CCJ) ( India) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Dubai Airport (DXB/OMDB), United Arab Emirates Destination airport: Kozhikode-Calicut Airport (CCJ/VOCL), India Flightnumber: IX1344 Narrative: Air India Express flight 1344, a Boeing 737-800, suffered a runway excursion on landing at Kozhikode-Calicut Airport, India. Local media report at least 17 fatalities. The flight departed Dubai Airport, United Arab Emirates at 10:15 UTC on a passenger service to Kozhikode-Calicut Airport. The aircraft arrived from the west, overflying the airport at 13:42 UTC. It then performed a teardrop approach to runway 28. This approach was discontinued and the aircraft subsequently flew a teardrop approach to runway 10. The aircraft touched down at 14:11 UTC (19:41 local time) but reportedly suffered a runway excursion. Photos from the scene show the nose section had separated from the fuselage after the aircraft went down a slope. Weather Weather at the time of the approaches and landing was poor. At 14:00 UTC scattered clouds were reported at 300 and 1200 feet with a few Cumulonimbus clouds at 2500 feet and overcast clouds at 8000 feet. The wind was from 260 degrees at 12 knots. Visibility was 2000 m in rain. Airport and runway The aircraft has a single runway (10/28) which is located on a flattened hill. The Landing Distance Available (LDA) for both directions is 2850 m. The runway strip extended to 60 m beyond the threshold. After the paved surface, there is a runway end safety area (RESA), measuring 93 m x 90 m. The ICAO required RESA length is 90 m, whereas the recommended length is 240 m. Past the RESA there is a 35 m drop off. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20200807-0 Curt Lewis