The flight was part of the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ programme and was en-route from Dubai with passengers stranded overseas due to the Covid-19 related situation.

At least 16 persons, including the pilot and co-pilot, have been killed as an Air India Express aircraft carrying 191 passengers skidded off the runway and fell deep into a valley during landing at Kozhikode airport in Kerala late Friday evening.

While all injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals, rescue operations are under way with emergency services at the site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shock over the accident. In his tweet he said, “Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.”

He also said he spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected.

The flight was part of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' programme and was en-route from Dubai with passengers stranded abroad due to the Covid-19 related situation.

As per media reports, it was raining heavily at the time of the accident and the runway on which the Air India flight number IX-1344 was landing was not long.