Ahmedabad plane crash: List of deadliest air tragedies in India over the years

The number of casualties has not been confirmed yet. However, considering the number of passengers onboard, this tragedy could turnout to be one of the deadliest crashes in global aviation history.

Here is a list of past tragedies that shook India’s aviation landscape

1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision

This mid-air collision has been the world’s deadliest and the worst-ever aviation incident in India’s history. A Boeing 747 Saudia Flight 763 from Delhi to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia and a Delhi-bound Kazakhstan Airlines flight 1907 from Chimkent in Kazakhstan crashed mid-air over Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. The crash led to the death of all the 349 people onboard the two planes.

The major reason for the crash was Kazakh crew failing to maintain the required altitude.

Mumbai crash 1978

An Air India flight 855 from Mumbai to Dubai crashed into the Arabian Sea on January 1, 1978, just 3 km away from the coast of Bandra. The Boeing 747 flight had 213 passengers and crew members, who all died in the incident. The investigation into the crash found that the likely cause was the pilot becoming “spatially disoriented” that led to him losing the control of the aircraft.

Ahmedabad crash 1988

Indian Airlines Flight 113 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad that crashed on its final approach to Ahmedabad Airport on 19 October 1988, killing 133 of the 135 people on board.

Indian Airlines Flight 171

An Indian Airlines Flight 171 met with an accident during an attempt for an emergency landing at the Mumbai international Airport on October 12, 1976 because of an engine failure. The incident killed all 95 people on board.

Kanishka Bombing

Air India's Flight 182 operating on Montreal-London-Delhi-Mumbai route suffered a major terrorist attack as Canadian Sikh extremists-planted bomb exploded mid-air, leading to the disintegration of the aircraft over Atlantic Ocean and the death of all the 329 passengers and crew members onboard.  The aircraft was another Boeing 747-237B plane.

Kozhikode accident 2020

Air India Express flight 1344 from Dubai to Kozhikode crashed on August 7, 2020 while landing at the Calicut international airport, leading to the death of 19 passengers. The aircraft, during its third attempt, skidded at the end of the runway amid heavy rain and tailwind.

Mangalore crash

Air India Express Flight 812 from Dubai to Mangalore, carrying 166 passengers, crashed on May 22, 2010. The Boeing 737-800's crash during landing led to the death of 158 flyers.