A Look At 10 Deadliest Air Accidents In India’s Aviation History
A Look At 10 Deadliest Air Accidents In India’s Aviation History
The recent crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad has brought back painful memories of past aviation disasters in India. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, with over 240 people on board.
This incident is one of the most serious in recent years, but sadly, not the first. In 1988, an Indian Airlines flight also crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 133 people. That crash remained India’s worst until 1996, when a mid-air collision in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri claimed 349 lives.
Here are 10 of the worst plane crashes in India:
- Charkhi Dadri Crash, 1996 – A Saudi Arabian and Kazakhstani aircraft collided mid-air near Delhi, killing 349 people. Miscommunication with air traffic control was the cause.
- Arabian Sea Crash, 1978 – Air India Flight 855 crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Mumbai, killing all 213 people. Pilot disorientation and equipment issues were blamed.
- Mangalore Crash, 2010 – An Air India Express flight overshot the runway and fell into a gorge, killing 158. Pilot error on a tabletop runway was the cause.
- Ahmedabad Crash, 1988 – Indian Airlines flight IC113 crashed due to pilot error and bad weather, killing 133 people.
- Mont Blanc Crash, 1966 – Air India Flight 101 crashed in the Alps, killing 117, including scientist Homi Bhabha.
- Patna Crash, 2000 – An Alliance Air flight crashed during landing, killing 60 people.
- Kozhikode Crash, 2020 – An Air India Express flight overshot the runway in Kerala, killing 20 people.
- Aurangabad Crash, 1993 – Indian Airlines flight hit a truck during takeoff and crashed, killing 55 people.
- Bombay Crash, 1976 – An Indian Airlines flight crashed in Mumbai, killing 95 passengers.
- Bangalore Crash, 1990 – Flight IC605 crashed while landing, killing 92. Pilot error was cited.
These tragic incidents highlight the importance of aviation safety, better training, and improved air traffic communication to prevent such disasters in the future.
