In between the extreme pandemic situation that the entire world has seen so far and is still going through, where millions of people have been killed by this virus, there is perhaps only one hope, to be safe and to be in one’s own country, among your loved ones, in a place called home. Discovery + brings you the story of hope, broken dreams, miracles, tragedy and valor with its latest documentary Vande Bharat Udaan IX1344: Hope to Survive.
On 7 August, during the peak of the ongoing epidemic, a rescue flight from Dubai to Kerala coincided with a tragic accident at Kozhikode on arrival at Kozhikode International Airport, claiming the lives of 19, by the timely assistance of local good Samaritan people’s miraculous efforts, the 171 people survived. This 45-minute attention capturing documentary highlights the events surrounding the ailing flight that crashed on one of the most challenging and dangerous runways to land in the country.
The film uses pictorial images to simulate the accident and its aftermath. They all come together to narrate the story of individuals who survived and lost their friends and family. This special documentary reveals human emotions, details behind the accident and expert opinion breaking down the possible causes of the disaster. Aviation specialists like Captain Amit Singh (Pilot and Aviation Blogger), Capt. Mohan Ranganathan (Independent Aviation Professional) and Capt. Sandeep Baweja (Pilot / Former Associate of Capt. Sathe); CISF personnel and local rescuers will form the core of the story with the survivors about what actually happened and what was going through their minds.
“August 7 is a day that I will never forget. The IX1344 accident that occurred is an extremely regrettable and a very unfortunate accident. The tragic incident has shaken me to my core because it is something that I believe will never happen to them. I am grateful to be alive but with the pain of witnessing the loss of lives of some fellow passengers and pilots”- Said Survivor Mufida from IX1344.
“Flying thousands of feet up in the sky while traveling in a giant aluminum tube is a miracle of innovation by the human mind that surely comes with its own risks and challenges. The accident is a tragic and extremely unfortunate event. Such accidents often occur when we fail to address adverse factors. At the time of the accident, there was heavy rainfall in the area, reducing visibility. The airport has one of the most dangerous runways in the country, which, unfortunately, did not favor Flight IX1344.
We, at Discovery, have previously brought you award-winning documentaries like Kerala Floods, India 2050 and some more interesting titles that range from the same genre, as we believe in bringing factual stories with expertise, which is Known for going deep into events to help mitigate disasters. This not only mesmerises our audience but leaves them with a richer experience and a better understanding of the world.
Sai Avishek, Director, Content – Factual and Lifestyle Entertainment, Director of Discovery Inc. in South Asia, said, “We will never step up efforts to showcase premium Discovery titles, Must-Watch Documentaries and India Originals ever seen.” he added.