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NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
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.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Looking back at 8 of the most deadliest airborne tragedies India experienced
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.
