NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar on Monday said he deeply appreciates the sympathy messages from several countries on the tragic Air India Express crash in Kerala’s Kozhikode, which claimed 18 lives.

“Deeply appreciate the message of sympathy on the tragic Kozhikode air crash. Such support is a source of strength at this difficult time,” he said in a tweet.

On August 7, 18 people, including the two pilots, died after the Air Express flight skidded off the runway at Karipur airport in Kozhikode amid heavy rain.

Deeply appreciate the message of sympathy on the tragic #KozhikodeAirCrash. Such support is a source of strength at this difficult time. @abdulla_shahid @FMBhutan @AKAbdulMomen @MFA_SriLanka @PradeepgyawaliK @HishammuddinH2O

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 10, 2020

The plane went down into a slope and broke into two pieces. Nepal, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Malaysia expressed grief over the crash and tweeted their sympathies to the families of the victims killed in the mishap.

Nepal’s foreign Ministry Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on August 8  extended deep condolences to the bereaved families and wished for speedy recovery of those injured on Air India aircraft’s accident in Kerala.

Deeply saddened by the news of Air India Express aircraft’s accident in Kerala, India last night. Nepal extends deep condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those injured.

— Pradeep Gyawali (@PradeepgyawaliK) August 8, 2020

The flight was coming from Dubai and carrying 190 passengers including 10 infants.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said an enquiry has been ordered under the Aircraft Act, while the black boxes of the ill-fated flight have been recovered. Findings of the investigation will be made public.

(With inputs from Agencies)