Ahmedabad Plane Crash: 11 Biggest Aviation Tragedies In India's History
An Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed to London Gatwick with 242 people on board.
Moments after lift-off, the pilot issued a " Mayday" call before the aircraft plummeted into a residential area, triggering a massive explosion and fire.
Officials say the plane reached only about 850 feet before losing contact. Emergency teams rushed to the site, where flames and thick black smoke were seen billowing from the crash zone. Rescue operations are underway.
India has witnessed several tragic aviation disasters over the decades.
Kozhikode Crash - August 7, 2020
Air India Express Flight 1344 was bringing passengers home from Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the Vande Bharat Mission. While landing at Calicut International Airport amid heavy rain, the plane skidded off the runway and fell into a 35-foot gorge. The aircraft broke into two.
At least 21 people, including both pilots, died in the crash. Over 100 passengers were injured. The airport had a 'tabletop' runway, which is considered risky in poor weather. The crash led to a review of similar structured-airports in India.
Mangaluru Crash - May 22, 2010
Air India Express Flight 812 was flying from Dubai to Mangaluru. Upon landing, the plane overshot the runway and fell into a deep gorge, breaking apart and catching fire.
Out of 166 people onboard, 158 died. Only eight survived. Investigators found that the captain continued the landing despite being in an unstable approach, which should have led to a go-around.
Patna Crash - July 17, 2000
Alliance Air Flight 7412 was flying from Kolkata to Delhi with a stop in Patna. While trying to land at the Patna airport, the plane lost control and crashed into a crowded residential area, hitting houses and power lines.
More than 60 people died in this crash. The cause was mainly pilot error and poor handling of the aircraft during descent.
Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision - November 12, 1996
This remains the worst aviation disaster in India's history. A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 collided in mid-air near Delhi. The crash happened due to miscommunication and wrong altitude instructions.
All 349 people on both aircraft were killed. The accident led to India making Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) mandatory on all commercial flights.
Aurangabad Crash - April 26, 1993
Indian Airlines Flight 491 took off from Aurangabad but hit a truck crossing the runway. The plane then struck power lines and crashed shortly after going airborne.
At least 55 people died in this crash. The tragedy was caused by poor coordination at the airport and failure to lift off at the right time.
Imphal Crash - August 16, 1991
Indian Airlines Flight 257 was flying from Kolkata to Imphal. The aircraft crashed into a hill while approaching the airport in poor weather.
All 69 passengers and crew died. The crash was caused by navigational mistakes and the lack of proper landing equipment in the area.
Bengaluru Crash - February 14, 1990
Indian Airlines Flight 605 was flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru. During landing, the plane touched down too early, hit the ground before the runway, and broke apart.
At least 92 people were killed. Investigators said the pilots were not familiar with some of the advanced systems on the Airbus A320, which also contributed to the crash.
Ahmedabad Crash - October 19, 1988
Indian Airlines Flight 113 was approaching Ahmedabad Airport in foggy conditions. The plane hit trees and the ground before reaching the runway.
Out of 135 people on board, 133 died. The crash was blamed on pilot error and failure to follow the correct landing procedures.
Bombay Crash - June 21, 1982
Air India Flight 403 was flying in from Kuala Lumpur and attempting to land in Mumbai during poor weather. The aircraft overshot the runway, skidded off, and caught fire.
At least 17 people died in the crash. Rain and poor runway conditions played a role in the accident.
Arabian Sea Crash - January 1, 1978
Air India Flight 855 took off from Mumbai for Dubai on New Year's Day. Minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed into the Arabian Sea.
All 213 people on board died. The crash happened because of faulty flight instruments and confusion in the cockpit.
Delhi Crash - May 31, 1973
Indian Airlines Flight 440 was flying from Chennai to Delhi. While approaching Palam Airport in stormy weather, the plane hit high-voltage power lines. It burst into flames before it could reach the runway.
At least 48 of the 65 people on board were killed. The crash was linked to bad weather and a lack of modern landing equipment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
25 minutes ago
- Hans India
Barmer MBBS student killed in Ahmedabad plane crash to be cremated in native village
Jaipur: Jaiprakash Choudhary (20), a second-year MBBS student from Bor Charanan village in Barmer district's Dhorimanna sub-division of Rajasthan, was among those tragically killed in the Ahmedabad plane crash on Thursday. Jaiprakash's body, which suffered nearly 30 per cent burns, was recovered from the debris near the kitchen area of the BJ Medical College hostel, where he was at the time of the incident. According to his nephew Mangalaram, Jaiprakash had spoken to the family just minutes before the crash. 'He called around 1 p.m. to say he was heading to the mess for lunch. His phone battery was low, and shortly after, the phone got switched off,' he said. The grieving family reached Ahmedabad late Thursday night. His body was handed over to them on Friday afternoon. The mortal remains are expected to reach Barmer by the evening, and the cremation will take place today in his native village. Jaiprakash was pursuing his MBBS from BJ Medical College and was staying at the hostel. The Air India flight, bound for Gatwick Airport in London, crashed just two minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, near the City Civil Hospital and BJ Medical College hostel in Meghaninagar. Omji Poonia, a neighbour from the village, said, 'Around 1 p.m. on Thursday, I was speaking to his family when Jaiprakash mentioned he was going to the mess. That was the last time we heard from him,' he said. Sunita Choudhary, daughter of former minister Hemaram Choudhary, also expressed her condolences on Facebook. 'As soon as I heard the news, I contacted doctors at the Ahmedabad hospital and requested immediate attention for Jaiprakash. I am in Ahmedabad personally monitoring the situation,' she wrote. Jaiprakash's father, Dharmaram, is a farmer. The family, including his brother and sister, lives in Bor Charanan village. His success in clearing the NEET exam had been a matter of pride for the entire village. News of his sudden and tragic death has plunged the community into mourning.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ahmedabad plane crash: Co-pilot Kundar was a good natured man who loved sports, say friends
Friends of Clive Kundar, the co-pilot of the ill-fated Air India Ahmedabad-London flight, remembered him as good natured man fond of sports and are still to come to terms with his demise. A day after AI-171 crashed minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport , killing 241 of the 242 persons on board, including 12 crew members, Kundar's friends said the scenes unfolding on television news channels continue to haunt them. Clive and his family stayed in Jerome Apartment in Kalina in Santa Cruz before shifting to Borivali and then to Goregaon, one of his friends said. Floyd D'Souza, a neighbour of the Kundars at Jerome Apartment, said Clive worked for a year as an aeronautical engineer before successfully chasing his dream to be a pilot. "He and his family members were very good natured people. They were so happy when Clive became a pilot. When a common friend called me to tell me about the Ahmedabad plane crash and Clive, I was shocked. It is so painful when all the great memories keep coming back," D'Souza said. Live Events Bonafacio Murzello, a friend of Clive's father Clifford, recollected seeing Clive play cricket in the building compound. "We used to call his father Rambo as he was fond of bodybuilding. The family loved sports," he said. Clive's sister, who works in Australia, is expected to reach Ahmedabad soon along with other kin, another friend informed.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Black box recovered in Air India tragedy: Here's what investigators could focus on now
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday confirmed that the black box was recovered from a rooftop. It said the investigation began with "full force" immediately after the retrieval. The black box is a crucial device that records key flight information such as altitude, speed, engine performance, and pilot inputs, helping investigators piece together what happened in the moments before a crash. 'The DFDR ( Digital Flight Data Recorder ) has been recovered from the rooftop,' the AAIB said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tabletă Ultra 2-in-1: Tastatură + Stilus GRATIS! 40% Reducere LUO Cumpără acum Undo Over 40 staff members from the State Government were deployed to support the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) teams on the ground. Dismissing misinformation, it added, 'Contrary to some reports, the video recorder being circulated is not the DFDR.' Live Events One of India's Worst Air Disasters This update comes a day after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner , operating as Flight AI-171, crashed minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. On board were 242 people: 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. In a devastating turn of events, 241 lives were lost. The only survivor is a British national of Indian origin, seated in 11A, who is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Aircraft Lost Control Within Minutes The flight took off at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday for London Gatwick. According to officials, the aircraft lost control shortly after take-off and plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College. The impact triggered a massive fire, with thick smoke engulfing the area, as emergency teams rushed to the site for rescue and recovery. Passenger Nationalities Shared In an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), Air India expressed deep sorrow and confirmed the nationalities of those on board: 169 Indian nationals 53 British nationals 7 Portuguese nationals 1 Canadian national Investigation Underway With the DFDR secured, the AAIB is now focused on analysing flight data to determine what caused the deadly crash. The recovery and investigation efforts are ongoing, with authorities urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
