Dhaka shares grief with Delhi over plane crash
Bangladesh has expressed deep shock at the loss of lives following an Air India plane crash at an airport in the southern state of Kerala, killing at least 18 persons and injuring over 100.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen wrote a letter to his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families and the persons of India with respect to the persons of Bangladesh, the federal government and on his own behalf.
The Foreign Minister also prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam talked to Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan over phone and expressed deep condolences over the increased loss of lives.
He conveyed deep sympathy for the members of the family of the victims and enquired about the injured Indian citizens.
Shahriar also wished early recovery of the injured.
"Deeply saddened to understand the news headlines of accident of Air India Express flight in Kozikode and lack of important lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. Wishing early recovery of the injured passengers," Shahriar tweeted.
Muraleedharan thanked Shahriar Alam for calling call and his deep condolences on lack of lives in Kozhikode Air crash.
"Greatly value the kind gesture of India’s neighbour & friend as of this hour of grief," he tweeted.
The plane swayed violently as it approached a hilltop runway soaked by monsoon rain, and occasions later the special return flight for Indians stranded abroad by the pandemic skidded off, nosedived and cracked in two, leaving 18 dead and a lot more than 120 injured.
Among the injured, at least 15 were in critical condition, said Abdul Karim, a senior officer in southern Kerala state.
The dead included both pilots of the Air India flight, the airline said in a statement, adding that the four cabin crewmembers were safe.
The two-year-old Boeing 737-800 flew from Dubai to Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, in Kerala.
There were 174 adult passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew on board.
