Four months after the tragedy, large aircrafts remain banned at Karipur airport

KOZHIKODE: Four months after the plane crash, the Director-General of Civil Aviation is yet to give permission for large planes to land at the tabletop runway of the Karipur airport. The ban continues in the wake of the tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 people on August 7. According to the Department of Civil Aviation, it is unable to give permission as the agencies investigating the accident did not submit a report so far.

A 2200 meter runway is enough for large planes to land at the airport, whereas the Karipur airport has a 2750 meter runway. Inspections by the Airports Authority of India, the Indian Pilot Club, Air India Express and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Team revealed that there was no technical impediment to landing large aircrafts.

A team of experts from foreign airlines such as Saudi Arabian Airlines and Emirates Airlines, which place great importance on passenger safety, also inspected the airport and found no problems. They had all volunteered to start services from Karipur.