Question : Aircraft Crash at Kozhikode International Airport

(a) whether an Air India Express aircraft crashed at Kozhikode International airport recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the loss of life reported;

(c) whether the Government has conducted investigations into this accident, if so, the details and the findings thereof along with the compensation paid to victims‘ families and the parameters being adopted therefor; and

(d) the remedial steps taken or being taken by the Government to avert such accidents and for safe operations of aircraft in the country?

The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) & (b) M/s Air India Express Ltd aircraft B-737 reg VT-AXH was involved in an accident on 7.08.2020 at Kozhikode airport. Out of the total of 190 persons on board the aircraft, 21 persons (including the 2 pilots) succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident.;
(c) The Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017 has appointed an Investigator-in-Charge assisted by other Investigators to inquire into the circumstances of the Air India Express crash at Kozhikode Airport on 7th August, 2020 by order dated 13.08.2020 and submit the report to AAIB preferably within five months from the date of order. The Investigator-in-Charge will determine the probable cause and contributory factors leading to this accident.;
Air India Express has disbursed the interim compensation as under:;
Category No. of Passenger Amount in Rupees;
(i) Deceased 18 1.6 Cr;
(ii) Grievously Injured 92 1.84 Cr;
(iii) Minor Injuries 73 36.50 Lakhs;;

(d) The following safety measures have already been mandated by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to avert such accidents:;
(i) Mandatory provision of Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and its periodic maintenance as per ICAO requirements.
(ii) Emphasis on regular maintenance of the runway strip to prevent the soil erosion.
(iii) Mandatory friction testing at regular intervals.;
(iv) Instructions have been issued for the Pilot Monitoring to identify the subtle incapacitation of the Pilot flying and procedure for taking over of the flight controls.
(v) For enhancing the operational safety, instructions have been issued for encouraging crew to go-around if for any reason, the approach is unstablised and same is non-punitive.
(vi) Instructions have been issued for all the airline operators to establish the tail wind and cross wind limitations based on the aircraft manufacturer guidance taking into consideration the runway surface conditions and weather conditions.