Plane crash kills over 160 passengers in India

Upward of 160 people have been confirmed dead after an Air India plane crashed in Southern India, the Associated Press reports.

The plane, which departed from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, reportedly overshot the runway of an airport in Mangalore, India.

"At least 160 passengers have died in the crash," V.S. Acharya, Home Minister of the southern state of Karnataka, told reporters.

A second official also confirmed that 160 people had been killed.

The plane was carrying 163 passengers and nine crew members. Officials had said earlier 169 people were on the plane.

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Wellington Airport runway closes

The runway of Wellington Airport has been closed this afternoon after a fire warning sparked an alert aboard an aircraft about to land earlier today. Mount Cook flight NZ5038 from Dunedin to Wellington was alerted to a fire warning just before touchdown, the NZPA reported.

According to the New Zealand Press Association:

"Following standard operating procedures the pilots requested the airport fire service to inspect the aircraft," an airline spokeswoman said.

"The ATR aircraft landed without incident and the engine was shut down on the runway. There was no evidence of smoke or fire."

An inspection by engineers also found no trace of fire.

Once checked the plane taxied to the gate for 61 passengers to disembark.

The aircraft was now undergoing further inspections.

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