Air India Express flight crash: Celebrities express grief for accident

The Air India Express flight that skidded off a runway while landing at the airport in Kozhikode, Kerala state, India, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. The special evacuation flight bringing people home to India who had been trapped abroad because of the coronavirus skidded off the runway and split in two while landing in heavy rain killing more than a dozen people and injuring dozens more. (AP Photo)

Air India Express flight IX 1344 crashed at the Kozhikode international airport in Kerala last evening. The flight, flying in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), overshot the runway while landing at around 7.41 pm. As many as 18 people died in the crash, including both pilots. At least 100 others were injured. It was being operated as part of the Vande Bharat Mission – the Centre’s repatriation programme – and had about 190 people on board.

Kerala’s Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will be visiting Kozhikode on August 8.

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Since the news broke, India's favourite stars took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express their grief and condolences.

Shah Rukh Khan tweeted: "My heart goes out to the passengers and crew members onboard the #AirIndia flight. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Thoughts and prayers..."

My heart goes out to the passengers and crew members onboard the #AirIndia flight. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Thoughts and prayers...

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— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 7, 2020

Shabana Azmi wished speedy recovery for those affected: "#Kozikhode #AirIndiaCrash . How tragic. Heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their lives and speedy recovery to the injured."

#Kozikhode #AirIndiaCrash . How tragic. Heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their lives and speedy recovery to the injured.

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— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) August 7, 2020

Akshay Kumar called it terrible news and expressed condolences:"Terrible news! Praying for the safety of all the passengers and crew onboard the #AirIndia Express flight. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones"

Terrible news! Praying for the safety of all the passengers and crew onboard the #AirIndia Express flight. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 7, 2020

Sanjay Dutt wrote: "Deeply saddened to hear about the #AirIndia flight tragedy. Praying for all the injured ones to recover soon. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved."

Deeply saddened to hear about the #AirIndia flight tragedy. Praying for all the injured ones to recover soon. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved.

— Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) August 7, 2020

Among the others who expressed solidarity and grief for the accidents include Ajay Devgn, Farhan Akhtar, Anupam Kher, Nimrat Kaur, Arbaaz Khan, Raveena Tandon, Aditi Rao Hydari, Randeep Hooda, Vivek Oberoi and Disha Patani.