Ahmedabad – In what is now being called one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent memory, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed just minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing scores and sending shockwaves across the nation. The flight was carrying 232 passengers, 10 crew members, and 2 pilots when it plummeted into a densely populated area in Meghani Nagar, igniting massive fires and chaos on the ground.
This incident is the deadliest since the Calicut plane crash of 2020, which claimed 21 lives, and has reignited serious concerns over civil aviation safety and operational protocol in India. Here’s a look back at some of India’s most devastating plane crashes that left a lasting scar on the country’s aviation history:
1. Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision (November 12, 1996)
One of the deadliest mid-air collisions in world aviation history, this crash involved a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin IL-76 over Charkhi Dadri, Haryana. Miscommunication and failure to maintain altitude separation led to the deaths of all 349 passengers and crew on board both flights.
2. Bombay Air Crash (January 1, 1978)
Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 bound for Dubai, crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Mumbai. The crash, attributed to pilot disorientation and instrument failure, resulted in the loss of all 213 people on board.
3. Mangalore Runway Overrun (May 22, 2010)
Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway at Mangalore Airport and plunged into a gorge while landing. Poor weather conditions and misjudged landing led to the deaths of 158 out of 166 passengers and crew.
4. Patna Plane Crash (July 17, 2000)
Alliance Air Flight 7412, en route from Kolkata to Delhi, crashed during its landing attempt in Patna, colliding with buildings and trees. The tragic incident killed over 60 people, and remains one of the deadliest domestic aviation accidents in India.
5. Aurangabad Crash (April 26, 1993)
Indian Airlines Flight 491, a Boeing 737, struck a truck and power lines during takeoff from Aurangabad Airport, leading to 55 fatalities. The accident prompted major changes in airport ground safety and aircraft clearance protocols.
As India mourns the lives lost in the Ahmedabad AI171 crash, aviation authorities including the DGCA and Air India have promised a thorough investigation into the latest tragedy. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the challenges still facing aviation safety, even in the era of advanced technology and global connectivity.
