Calicut crash: CISF personnel were first responders with their families joining in rescue effort – Times of India

The wreckage of an Air India Express jet can be seen at Calicut International Airport.

NEW DELHI: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel guarding the perimeter of Calicut Airport on Friday were the first responders when the Air India Express crash-landed there at 7.41 pm. ASI Ajit, the party incharge of perimeter patrolling party, saw the Boeing 737 which had flown in from Dubai “overshot and skidded off the runway in heavy rain, fell off the table top and split into two.” Family members of CISF personnel who live in residential area near the airport also joined the rescue effort to save people onboard this plane.
“ASI Ajit immediately informed the control room. On getting his message, over 40 CISF personnel residing in the adjoining barrack, quick reaction team with the QRT party along with the chief airport security officer (CASO) reached the spot within minutes and started evacuating passengers along with Airports Authority of India (AAI) fire team. Family members of CISF personnel also reached the spot and together these first responders evacuated 99% of passengers from the flight and helped shift the injured to nearest hospital,” said M A Ganapathy, CISF special director-general and head of the airport sector.
The CASO also informed local and state authorities. In about 20 minutes, other airport staff along with local police joined in the rescue and evacuation effort. Just after 10 pm, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team also reached the spot and evacuated two passengers who were stuck in the debris of this aircraft, says a “detailed account” filed by CISF team at Calicut Airport.