Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Looking back at 8 of the most deadliest airborne tragedies India experienced

Time of India

2 days ago

In a heartbreaking turn of events, an Air India aircraft operating as flight AI 171, which had taken off from Ahmedabad en route to London, met with a devastating accident on Thursday. The commercial plane, which was carrying 232 passengers and crew members, encountered a fatal mishap moments after departure. According to a
PTI
report, the aircraft plummeted into a densely inhabited area in Meghaninagar, not far from the airport. The crash wreaked havoc on the local neighborhood, filling the air with smoke, sirens, and sheer terror. The impact was so severe that at least 40 lives have been confirmed lost, with many more individuals still unaccounted for or suffering serious injuries.
This heart-wrenching incident marks India's first major aviation disaster in half a decade. Before this, the country's skies had enjoyed a relatively safe stretch since the
Kozhikode runway crash
in 2020—a period of calm that now feels tragically shattered.
A Grim History of Aerial Disasters in India
India has seen several sorrowful moments in aviation history. Here's a look at the most catastrophic crashes that still haunt the collective memory of the nation:
Kozhikode (2020)
Air India Express flight IX-1344 was returning to India as part of the Vande Bharat Mission on August 7, 2020. The flight, arriving from Dubai, tried to land amid intense rainfall and poor visibility at the tabletop runway in Kozhikode. The aircraft overran the landing strip and fell into a deep valley, breaking apart on impact. The crash claimed 21 lives, including both pilots, and caused injuries to over 100 passengers—many of them critically.
Mangalore (2010)
On May 22, 2010, another Air India Express jet, flight IX-812, carrying 166 people from Dubai, crashed at Mangalore Airport. After failing to stop in time, the plane crossed the runway's edge and plunged into a ravine before erupting in flames. A mere 8 people survived; 158 souls perished.
Patna (1998)
Alliance Air flight 7412 tragically went down near Patna on July 17, 1998. Attempting to execute a go-around, the plane spiraled out of control and crashed into a residential neighborhood. The death toll reached 60, with five victims being local residents.
Charkhi Dadri (1996)
On November 12, 1996, the skies over Haryana witnessed the deadliest mid-air collision in global history. Saudi Arabian Airlines flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines flight 1907 collided due to altitude miscommunication. All 349 people aboard both aircraft were killed instantly.
Aurangabad (1993)
Indian Airlines flight 491 crashed while taking off on April 26, 1993, after hitting a vehicle that had accidentally entered the runway. The crash resulted in 55 deaths.
Bangalore (1990)
Indian Airlines flight 605 fell short of the runway at HAL Airport on February 14, 1990. Descending prematurely, the plane crashed, resulting in 92 fatalities out of 146 on board.
Ahmedabad (1988)
On October 19, 1988, Indian Airlines flight 113 crashed due to low visibility during landing, killing 133 people and leaving only two survivors.
Mumbai (1978)
Air India Flight 855 plunged into the Arabian Sea on January 1, 1978, right after takeoff. Disorientation from instrument failure caused the death of all 213 passengers.
These painful incidents remind us how fragile air travel can be and reinforce the absolute necessity for rigorous safety protocols and continuous improvements in aviation technology and training.