Puri questions Cong MPs' tweets on plane mishap, says Kozhikode runway safety as per ICAO guidelines

Kozhikode airport is equipped with runway end safety area as per guidelines of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday, while questioning various tweets by Congress MPs on plane crash in which 18 people were killed.

"re was some excited tweeting by few members of Congress Party without fully being aware of facts," said minister.

"MP @RavneetBittu did t kw difference between a narrow body aircraft & a wide bodied one yet he tweeted as an expert on subject! He did well by deleting his tweet," he said in a tweet.

Ludhiana MP of Congress, Ravneet Singh Bittu, h alleged on Twitter on August 8 that "despite several red flags and 2015 ban on wide-body aircraft's landing at Kozhikode airport, Hardeep Singh Puri removed ban in July 2019 leing to such a fatal crash and loss of lives".

Air India Express plane that crashed on Friday night was a B737, which is a narrow body aircraft.

Puri said in ar tweet, "I am gl that my friend @ShashiTharoor has checked facts & changed his tune yesterday. But MP @manickamtagore stands out with his astounding lack of awareness. For starters, he wanted me to go to Kozhikode when I was alrey on my way!" Union minister furr said, "Such was his (Tagore's) desire for media attention that he did t study basic facts before turning into an aviation security & protocol expert. Visits of ministers should be timed in a way that y do t hamper relief & rescue operations by professional ncies." On subject of safety of tabletop runways such as that at Kozhikode airport where mishap took place, he said, "Kozhikode airport is equipped with Runway End Safety Area (RESA) as per @icao Guidelines on safety." Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people, including a six-member crew, overshot tabletop runway during landing at Kozhikode airport in heavy rain on Friday night, fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into two, killing 18 people, including pilots.