India's deadliest plane crashes: A timeline of tragedy in the skies

Time of India

12-06-2025

India's deadliest plane crashes
Ahmedabad Plane Crash
: On June 12, tragedy hit the Gujarat skies when Air India Flight AI 171, which was flying from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just after takeoff from Meghaninagar, a crowded area.
The plane had 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew members, and soon after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, it crashed into a residential complex.
The whole place erupted in heavy black smoke that could be seen as far as Vastrapur, sending thousands into panic and pandemonium.
Emergency response teams were deployed within minutes, firefighters, police units, and paramedics flooded the site as images of the twisted fuselage and blazing wreckage began circulating online.
This tragic incident, the first major air crash in India since 2020, has once again turned the spotlight on India's aviation safety standards, emergency preparedness, and the historical pattern of catastrophic air disasters that have marked the country's aviation timeline over the past several decades.
List of India's major plane crashes over the years
The latest tragedy is not the only one. India has a checkered history of deadly air crashes, a lot of which prompted reforms in aviation rule and plane operation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Here's a vivid description of the worst commercial air tragedies in Indian history, reminders of the risks that come with flying.
2020: Air India Express Flight IX-1344 - Kozhikode
Date: August 7, 2020
Location: Kozhikode, Kerala
Fatalities: 21
Flying as part of the Vande Bharat Mission, this Dubai repatriation flight overshot Kozhikode's tabletop runway during low visibility and heavy rains. The Boeing 737 plane slipped into a 30-foot gorge and split in two. Both pilots were killed instantaneously.
Over 100 passengers were injured, some seriously. The crash put serious questions regarding the safety of tabletop runways and raised questions internationally.
2010: Air India Express Flight IX-812 - Mangalore
Date: May 22, 2010
Location: Mangalore, Karnataka
Fatalities: 158
Another Dubai-bound flight ended in tragedy at Mangalore's tabletop runway, when the plane overshot the runway and fell into a ravine, erupting into flames. A mere 8 people survived, most of whom were sitting in the front rows.
Pilot fatigue and bad judgment were cited as reasons by investigators.
1998: Alliance Air Flight 7412 - Patna
Date: 17 July 1998
Location: Patna, Bihar
Fatalities: 60 (5 on ground)
The plane crashed while going for a go-around and crashed into a populated residential area close to the airport. Inadequate coordination among the flight crew and poor training were the reasons behind this crash. It is one of the deadliest air crashes in the history of Bihar.
1996: Charkhi Dadri Mid-air collision
Date: 12 Nov 1996
Location: Haryana
Fatalities: 349
Involving a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76, this tragedy is listed as the world's most fatal mid-air collision.
It resulted from miscommunication and disobedience of altitude commands. The tragedy prompted a full revamp of air traffic control procedures in India, including the mandatory fitting of Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS).
1993: Indian Airlines Flight 491 - Aurangabad
Date: April 26, 1993
Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Fatalities: 55
Upon takeoff, the plane crashed into a truck that had strayed onto the runway by mistake, causing a blazing crash. The unusual and virtually avoidable accident revealed wide-open holes in airport security and vehicle control procedures.
1990: Indian Airlines Flight 605 - Bangalore
Date: 14 February 1990
Location: Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Karnataka
Fatalities: 92
Airbus A320 descended prematurely and crashed short of the runway at HAL Airport, killing 92 individuals. The incident led India's civil aviation authorities to review landing procedures and simulator training for new-generation aircraft.
1988: Indian Airlines Flight 113 - Ahmedabad
Date: October 19, 1988
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Fatalities: 133
During the effort to land in adverse visibility conditions, the plane crashed short of the runway. The crash and explosion claimed only two survivors. This accident now shares a shivering resemblance with the 2025 crash, both taking place close to the same airport, renewed suspicion over local weather equipment, pilot navigation, and approach aids.
1978: Air India Flight 855 - Mumbai
Date: January 1, 1978
Location: Arabian Sea, off Mumbai
Fatalities: 213
Immediately after takeoff, the Boeing 747 experienced instrument failure, which caused spatial disorientation and a fatal dive into the sea. This is one of the first instances where human factors, including situational awareness loss, resulted in a calamitous event.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: What we know so far
Flight: Air India AI 171
Aircraft Type: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Route: Ahmedabad to London (Gatwick)
Crash Site: Meghaninagar, close to Ahmedabad Airport
Onboard: 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 crew members
Casualties: Initial reports suggest dozens feared dead, many seriously injured
It has been confirmed by authorities that a full-scale investigation has been launched, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the lead, assisted by Air India and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The aircraft is said to have lost altitude minutes into the flight, and suspicion has fallen on either mechanical malfunction, bird hit, or human error.