At least 16 people were killed in a plane crash in the Indian city of Kozhikoda • The passengers returned from the UAE on a rescue flight after being trapped in the country because of the corona

• The plane crash in India

  Photo: 

  IPI

At least 16 people were killed this evening (Friday) and dozens were injured in an Air India passenger plane crash in the southwestern Indian city of Kozhikoda.

According to the accident investigation, the 737 plane that took off from Dubai slipped off the runway when landing, and then hit its nose on the ground. The entire plane had 190 passengers and crew, with most of the passengers being Indian nationals forced to stay in the UAE due to the eruption of the corona. 

"16 people have been deprived of their lives," the Indian Air Transport Minister said, sending his condolences to the families of the dead, and best wishes to the wounded.

Prime Minister Naronda Modi also sent his condolences and said "my thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones". This is the worst aviation disaster in India since 2010, when a plane - also from Dubai, crashed from a hill during landing. That disaster killed 158 people.