Fallen wings
Strap: Ahmedabad crash revives painful memories of India’s deadliest aviation disasters and ongoing safety challenges
Blurb:
As the probe into this latest crash unfolds, the nation grieves yet again, while continuing to face the ongoing challenges of aviation safety.
Byline: Ravi Kiran
Last Thursday, Indian aviation faced another devastating blow when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, headed for London, crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad. Onboard were 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew—led by Captain Sumit Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kunder. The passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.
This tragic event has once again drawn attention to India’s complex and often painful aviation history, marked by significant disasters that have left lasting scars.
India has witnessed several fatal air accidents over the years, many among the deadliest worldwide. As the probe into this latest crash unfolds, the nation grieves yet again, while continuing to face the ongoing challenges of aviation safety. Each catastrophe, while heartbreaking, has been a catalyst for improvements in training, technology, and regulation. Still, the pursuit of safer skies remains an unwavering goal—for the safety of every passenger and crew who take to the air.
Here is a haunting list of four air tragedies in Indian skies:
Air India Express Flight IX-1344, Kozhikode (2020)
Operating as part of the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ to bring stranded passengers home during the pandemic, this Boeing 737-800 was on a quick turnaround flight from Dubai to Kozhikode. The plane attempted two landings, initially aborting one approach before finally touching down on runway 10. However, the aircraft failed to stop, overrunning the tabletop runway and plunging over 100 feet down a slope onto the perimeter road. Although no fire broke out, 158 lives were lost, with only eight survivors mostly seated upfront.
Mangalore Crash (2010)
This tragic runway overshoot involved Air India Express flight IX-812 during a night landing at Mangalore airport. Investigations revealed the captain ignored repeated warnings to abort the approach and continue circling, resulting in the aircraft overshooting the runway and killing 158 people. The incident highlighted the critical importance of cockpit communication and decision-making under pressure.
Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision (1996)
The deadliest mid-air collision in history occurred near Haryana when a Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 collided with a Kazakh Ilyushin Il-76 after the Kazakh plane descended below its assigned altitude. All 349 onboard both flights were lost, marking the worst aviation disaster over Indian airspace. The catastrophe was traced back to miscommunication, emphasizing the critical need for strict adherence to air traffic protocols.
Air India Flight 182 Bombing (1985)
In a dark chapter of aviation terrorism, Air India Flight 182 exploded mid-air off the coast of Ireland due to a bomb planted by Sikh extremists. All 329 passengers and crew perished, marking one of the deadliest acts of terror against civil aviation in history. The tragedy underscored vulnerabilities in airline security and remains a somber reminder of the threats faced by global air travel.