Akshay, Shah Rukh and Amitabh Bachchan express their grief over Kerala plane crash tragedy

Bollywood superstars Akshay Kumar, Shah Raukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan expressed their grief over the deaths and injuries caused when an Air India Express flight bringing Indians home from Dubai skidded off the runway at the Karipur International Airport in Kerala's Kozhikode.

At least 17 people, including both pilots, were killed and 123 injured after the plane with more than 190 onboard skidded off the runway on Friday.

Taking to his Facebook account, Akshay wrote, “Terrible news! Praying for the safety of all the passengers and crew onboard the #AirIndia Express flight. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones 🙏🏻".

Shah Rukh expressed grief and conveyed condolences to the people, who died in the plane crash tragedy. He wrote on his Facebook page, “My heart goes out to the passengers and crew members onboard the #AirIndia flight. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Thoughts and prayers..."

Bachchan wrote on Facebook, “FB 2820 - A terrible tragedy .. Air India crash in Kerala, Kozhikode airport , plane skids off the runway on landing in heavy rain .. Prayers .. 🙏"

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among several leaders who expressed shock at the accident.

The plane, part of the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indian nationals from overseas during the coronavirus lockdown, skidded off the tabletop runway and fell into a 35-feet deep valley, breaking into two portions.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said he was deeply "anguished and distressed" at the accident and that relief teams from Air India and Airports Authority of India (AAI) had been dispatched from Delhi and Mumbai.