The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on August 8 directed its personnel to go into quarantine after at least two passengers of the ill-fated Air India Express flight, that crashed at Kozhikode, tested positive for the coronavirus. The CISF, in a statement, mentioned that it was the first responder to rescue the passengers of the crashed flight on August 7. Assistant Sub-inspector Ajit Singh was on the runway patrol when the Dubai bound flight overshot the runway, killing at least 18 passengers of the 190 passengers on board.

Captain Deepak Sathe and his co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar were among the once who lost their lives. Captain DV Sathe, before joining Air India Express flights, flew planes for Air India. Sathe won the sword of honour at the Air Force Academy in June 1981 and was a test pilot for HAL too.

The Express flight fell into a 35-foot valley and broke into two after overshooting the runway due to heavy rainfall.

“We are identifying our personnel, who rescued the passengers who have tested positive for coronavirus,” CISF Special Director General (Airports) MA Ganapathy told PTI.

Around 50 CISF personnel, who were involved in the rescue operation, and their family members have been asked to quarantine themselves, MA Ganapathy further added.

Along with the CISF personnel, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other airport officials have also been directed to quarantine.

The force will also conduct coronavirus tests of all those who were exposed, the officer said. The CISF provides a counter-terrorist cover to the Kozhikode airport.

ASI Singh, who saw the crash first, had immediately alerted his control room, which later informed the airport authorities and rescue teams from the CISF, airport authority, fire, and police were subsequently rushed to the spot.

The CISF was inducted at this airport in 2001-2002 and has a strength of about 350 personnel, an officer said.