Karipur: A restriction has been imposed for the landing of large aircrafts at Karipur International Airport. Following this, a Saudi Airlines flight from Jeddah to Karipur was rescheduled to Nedumbassery airport. Also, Air India Jumbo service was cancelled temporarily.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took the decision after Air India Express flight IX 344 crashed at Karipur on Friday. The plane crash had claimed 18 lives and left many injured. The DGCA gave a verbal direction to temporarily withdraw the service of Saudi Airlines.
There is a move to stop the landing of large aircrafts at Karipur airport by convincing the authorities and the public that the airport is unsafe. Larger aircrafts of Qatar Airways were granted permission to land at Karipur only the other day and they had started preparations. Meanwhile, the authorities took the decision to stop the landing of large aircrafts.
Air India, Etihad, Saudi Air and Qatar Airways were granted permission to land large aircrafts at Karipur airport. Only Saudi Airlines conducts service of larger aircrafts to Karipur here at present. Once the new decision is implemented, the existence of Karipur airport will be in question as the larger aircrafts would be compelled not to land here.
