State to thank Dubai officials for action in air disaster

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday that the government will express its deep sense of gratitude to all the Dubai officials for their timely rescue of the passengers from an Emirates flight that skidded and burst into flames last week at Dubai International Airport.

Addressing reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting here, Vijayan said besides thanking the officials, we will also ask the Dubai government to personally pay the government's condolences to the family of fire-fighter Jassim Essa Al-Baloushi who lost his life during the rescue operation.

"We will express this in the official way," said Vijayan.

Of the 300 passengers on board, 226 were Indian nationals, mostly Keralites, as the flight originated from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and was bound for Dubai.

The flight skidded on the runway or did crashlanding, according to media reports, and burst into flames. But quick response from authorities helped save all passengers and crew aboard the jetliner. The firefighter was the only casualty.