Air India bombing: Families gather to mourn victims of Canada's deadliest terror attack
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AHAKISTA, Ireland — They came here Monday not only to honour the 331 killed 40 years ago in the Air India bombings, but also to condemn the hatred behind the unprecedented act of terror.
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Families of the victims joined politicians from Canada, India and Ireland, as well as first responders and the people of County Cork, who have embraced them and grieved with them over four decades.
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Hundreds attended the special anniversary at this scenic spot, surrounded by lush green hills and overlooking the sea near where the plane went down on June 23, 1985.
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Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he was honoured to be here 'on this the 40th anniversary of that terrible day in 1985 that saw the Air India flight cruelly and horrifically brought down off our coastline.'
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'It's always a privilege and honour to attend this sober commemoration and to witness the dignity, dedication and care with which you remember your loved ones who died so horrifically,' he said. 'The passing of time does not dim the scale of loss and of this atrocity. We feel the enormity of your loss when we see the faces and read the stories on the memorial here before us.'
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'So many young lives taken far too soon. While the scale of this horrific act is of global significance, we should never forget that it is an intensely personal tragedy.'
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A B.C.-made suitcase bomb exploded on the Boeing 747, en route from Toronto to India, just after 8 a.m. and less than an hour after another B.C. bomb blew up at Japan's Narita Airport, killing two baggage handlers.
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At exactly 8:12 a.m. Monday, the families stood around a sun dial monument for a minute of silence, before breaking out with soulful chants. Schoolchildren played tin whistles and sang Let It Be.
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Pradeep Kalsi recalled waiting at an airport in India for his sister Indira, 21, to arrive from Ontario, where she was a student at the University of Guelph.
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CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Investigators analyzing black box data from fatal Air India crash
Social Sharing Investigators have begun analyzing data extracted from the black boxes of the ill-fated Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed on June 12, killing at least 270 people, India's Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday. The data is crucial as it will help shed light on the cause of the country's worst aviation disaster in recent memory. A team led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started looking at the data with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the ministry said in a statement. "These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences," it said. Indian investigators recovered the black boxes from the wreckage site in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, a couple of days after the London-bound Air India flight 171 struck a residential area minutes after takeoff. The crash killed 241 people onboard and at least 29 on the ground. There was one survivor. The black box is one of the most important pieces of forensic evidence following a plane crash. There are typically two sturdy devices: the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. They're typically orange, not black. Indian authorities flew the black boxes from Ahmedabad to the national capital in an Indian Air Force aircraft amid tight security early this week. The investigation could take weeks or months. India set up a state-of-the-art laboratory in New Delhi in April to help the AAIB repair damaged black boxes and retrieve data to enhance the accuracy of investigations. A multidisciplinary team led by AAIB director general GVG Yugandhar is probing the Air India crash with assistance from aviation and air traffic control specialists and experts from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The Indian government has also set up a separate, high-level committee to examine the causes leading to the crash and formulate procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies in the future. The committee is expected to file a preliminary report within three months. Following the crash, Indian authorities had ordered deeper checks of Air India's entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners to prevent future incidents. Air India has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet. Inspection has been completed for at least 26, while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon.
Canada News.Net
a day ago
- Canada News.Net
Words can't capture what we feel: Air India CEO at Memorial for AI171 Crew
New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): Air India held a memorial service on Tuesday at its corporate headquarters in Gurugram to pay tributes to the members flight crew who lost their lives in the tragic AI171 accident. During the event, company CEO Campbell Wilson said, 'Words can't capture what we feel. We have a shared responsibility to honour our colleagues' memory, their service'. As per the source within the airline, the heartfelt ceremony was attended by employees across departments and live-streamed to all Air India offices and the airline's Training Academy, allowing staff across the country to come together in remembrance. According to airline sources, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson addressed employees during the service. Struggling to hold back his emotions, Wilson acknowledged the depth of collective grief, saying, 'There are no words that can truly capture what we're feeling. Each of us will carry this loss in our own way, but together, we have a shared responsibility -- to honour our colleagues' memory, their service, and their spirit through the way we move forward.' The source shared that the service opened with a moment of silence, followed by moving tributes from colleagues who knew the crew personally. Several cabin crew members and pilots spoke about the colleagues and friends they lost, recalling heartwarming memories. One crew member recited a touching poem written in memory of the fallen, while another shared the last voice note they received from a crew member on board AI171 -- a deeply emotional moment that brought many to tears. The ceremony concluded with a candlelighting and floral tribute. Employees gathered around a memorial display adorned with photos of the AI171 crew, lighting candles and offering flowers in silent tribute. 'Many could not hold back their tears,' the source added. 'It was a moment of shared grief and profound respect.' The tragedy of AI171 has left a deep void within the Air India family. But yesterday's memorial, as described by the airline's source, served as a powerful reflection of unity, remembrance, and the enduring bond among those who take to the skies. On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed to London with 230 passengers and 12 crew members. (ANI)
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Investigators begin analyzing data from black boxes of Air India flight that crashed
Published Jun 26, 2025 • 2 minute read The tail of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. Photo by SAM PANTHAKY / AFP via Getty Images NEW DELHI — Investigators have begun analyzing data extracted from the black boxes of the ill-fated Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed about two weeks ago, killing at least 270 people, India's civil aviation ministry said on Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The data is crucial as it will help shed light on the cause of the country's worst aviation disaster in recent memory. A team led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, or AAIB, has started looking at the data with support from the U.S. National Transport Safety Board, the ministry said in a statement. 'These efforts aim to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences,' the ministry said. Indian investigators recovered the black boxes from the wreckage site in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, a couple of days after the London-bound Air India flight 171 struck a residential area minutes after takeoff. The crash killed 241 people onboard and at least 29 on the ground. There was one survivor. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The so-called 'black box' is one of the most important pieces of forensic evidence following a plane crash. There are typically two sturdy devices, the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. And they're typically orange, not black. Indian authorities flew the black boxes from Ahmedabad to the national capital in an Indian Air Force aircraft amid tight security early this week. The investigation could take weeks or months. India set up a state-of-the-art laboratory in New Delhi in April to help AAIB repair damaged black boxes and retrieve data to enhance the accuracy of investigations. A multidisciplinary team led by AAIB Chief GVG Yugandhar is probing the Air India crash with assistance from aviation and air traffic control specialists and experts from the National Transport Safety Board. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Indian government has also set up a separate, high-level committee to examine the causes leading to the crash and formulate procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies in the future. The committee is expected to file a preliminary report within three months. Following the June 12 crash, Indian authorities had ordered deeper checks of Air India's entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner to prevent future incidents. Air India has 33 Dreamliner in its fleet. Inspection has been completed for at least 26 while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon. Read More Sunshine Girls Canada Toronto & GTA Toronto Raptors Sunshine Girls
