Air India Express Flight 1344 — 7 August 2020 aircraft crash in Kerala, India
The crash of Air India Express Flight 1344 killed 19 people and both pilots after the aircraft overran a tabletop runway at Calicut International Airport.
Key Facts
- Date
- 7 August 2020
- Deaths
- 19 passengers and 2 pilots
- Injured
- 110 people
- Survivors
- 165 passengers and 4 cabin crew
- Runway drop
- 9–10.5 metres
- Flight origin
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The flight was operating as part of India's Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate nationals stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Heavy rain and strong tailwinds forced the crew to abort two initial landing attempts at Calicut International Airport before proceeding with a third approach.
On the third landing attempt, the Boeing aircraft touched down on runway 10, a tabletop runway elevated above surrounding terrain, but failed to stop within the available distance. The aircraft skidded off the end of the runway and fell down a slope of 9 to 10.5 metres, breaking apart on impact.
The crash killed 19 passengers and both pilots, while injuring 110 of the 169 surviving occupants. It was the second fatal accident in Air India Express history, following Flight 812 in 2010, and prompted renewed scrutiny of operations on tabletop runways in India.