Wing Commander Deepak Vansath Sathe passed away on August 7, 2020, as the Air India flight from Dubai crashed at the Kozhikode airport. He was the pilot of the Air India flight. The incident was reported in the evening on Friday, and the report states that the aircraft broke into two parts as it overshot due to the rainy conditions.
Captain Sathe was also an experimental test pilot in the IAF before joining Air India. He was from Mumbai and lived at a residential complex in Powai. He was commissioned into service in June 1981 and retired after 22 years in June 2003. During his duty, he also designated as the squadron leader in June 1992. Reports also state that he was skilled at flying the Boeing 737 aircraft, ranked 58th at the NDA and Sword of Honour in 127 pilot course.
Along with Captain Sathe, First Officer Akhilesh Kumar also passed away in the crash. Their bodies are currently taken to MIMS Hospital in Kozhikode and their deaths were confirmed by Kozhikode District Collector Sree Ram Sambasivarao.
Aircraft IX 1344 was flying from Dubai to Kozhikode, was bringing back Indians stuck abroad during the coronavirus pandemic and was a part of the Vande Bharat Mission. The incident occurred at the Karipur International Airport when the aircraft overshot the runway and plunged 30 feet during the landing procedure. The front portion of the aircraft crashed and carrier split into two parts. Reports state that so far, 11 people have died in the incident, while 138 injured are injured in the crash.
Passengers who are grievously injured are admitted to the hospitals in the city and some have been taken to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital for further treatment.
In 2019, the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted an audit and had issued a notice to the airport authorities stating unsafe airport maintenance.
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