Compensation announced for families of Indian plane crash victims

Air India Express has announced interim compensation to the families of those who died in the accident involving flight IX-1344 on Friday evening.

As an immediate relief, the airline will pay Rs. 1 million (AED 49,000) to the next kin of the deceased passenger, while the amount will be Rs. 500,000 (AED 24,500) in the case of passengers below the age of 12 years.

It has also announced Rs. 200,000 (AED 9,800) to passengers who are critically injured, and Rs. 50,000 (AED 2,500) to those who suffered minor injuries.

The flight from Dubai overshot the runway while landing in heavy rains at Kozhikode airport in Kerala, and slid into a deep gorge, splitting into two.

At least 18 people, including the pilots were killed, while 149 others are under treatment at various hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

The aircraft was carrying 190 people – 184 passengers, four cabin crew and two pilots.

Its flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered from the crash site.

"Reasons for the mishap are being investigated," said India's Minister of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri.

My heart goes out to the families & friends of the 18 people who lost their lives in the air accident involving @FlyWithIX Flight IX-1344 in Kozhikode last evening & offer my heartfelt condolences.

Reasons for the mishap are being investigated. pic.twitter.com/awEGpU9EmK

— Hardeep Singh Puri (मोदी का परिवार) (@HardeepSPuri) August 8, 2020

The commander of the flight, Deepak Vasant Sathe was a decorated former Indian Air Force officer, the airline said in its accident bulletin.

Sathe’s co-pilot, Akhilesh Kumar, was also killed in the incident.