In a shocking development in the deadly plane crash in Kozhikode, Kerala, one deceased and at least two injured passengers have been tested positive for COVID-19, which further added more challenges to the taskforce in tracing their contacts amid mourning for 18 lives that were lost in the tragic crash of the Air India Express flight that was carrying 190 people on board from Dubai to Kozhikode as part of the Vande Bharat Mission.
The officials on Saturday said that at least two survivors had tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection following which the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had directed its personnel to stay under quarantine. According to the reports, the CISF personnel had first responded to the crash and started rescuing the passengers from the aircraft that had broken into two pieces.
CISF Assistant Sub Inspector Ajit Singh was on the runway patrol when the Air India Express flight approached the tabletop runway and had a catastrophic end. According to the Special Director General of CISF's Airports division, the central agency has been identifying its personnel who rescued the passengers who had contracted to the viral infection. Around 50 CISF personnel had involved in the rescue operation and their family members have been advised to stay under quarantine.
The Central agency will conduct testes for the personnel while the other official said that the rescuers of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the officials from other airports have been advised to stay under quarantine following the development. The incident had occurred at around 7.40 pm on Friday and the crash had killed 18 people including two pilots and it has put over 120 people in the hospitals and of them, 22 are under critical condition.
Ajit Singh witnessed the crash on the runway and he alerted his control room immediately following which the airport authorities were informed and the rescue teams from the CISF, NDRF, airport authority, and the fire department had arrived at the spot. In what has become one of the tragic flight crashes in India, the center has ordered the investigation into the mishap and the black box of the crashed flight has been recovered through which the cause of the crash would be ascertained.
According to the latest reports, one among the 18 deceased passengers had tested positive for COVID-19 and Kerala's Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel identified the person as 45-year-old Sudheer Varyath and it has been reported that more positive cases could be suspected. Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja had asked the people who engaged in the relief operations to report to the health authorities and the health minister further advised them to get tested for the viral infection.
Kerala: Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri visits Kozhikode Airport, where an #AirIndiaExpress flight crashlanded yesterday.
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2020
18 people, including two pilots, lost their lives in the incident. pic.twitter.com/RW2FQnAxNv
On Saturday, Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has visited the Kozhikode airport and took a review of the debris of the wrecked airplane.
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