On June 12, 2025, a devastating aviation tragedy unfolded near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, crashed shortly after takeoff, en route to London Gatwick Airport. The aircraft was carrying approximately 244 individuals, including 232 passengers and 12 crew members. The crash occurred in the Meghaninagar area, resulting in significant casualties and widespread shock.
Here is a chronological timeline of air accidents in India.
July 7, 1962– Alitalia Flight 771, a Douglas DC-8, crashed into Mumbai’s Ghatkopar Hills during descent. All 94 onboard were killed, making it India’s deadliest air crash at the time. The cause was controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), attributed to pilot error and poor visibility.
Jan 1, 1978– Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747-237B, crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Santacruz Airport, Mumbai. All 213 people on board were killed. The cause was traced to a cockpit fire that led to loss of control.
June 21, 1982– Indian Airlines Flight 491, a Boeing 737-200, crashed while attempting to land at Bhopal Airport in central India. The crash resulted in the deaths of 50 people out of the 55 aboard. The incident was caused by pilot error and poor weather conditions, including heavy rain and low visibility.
Oct 19, 1988– Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737-200, crashed on its final approach to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The accident tragically claimed the lives of 133 passengers and 2 crew members, leaving only 2 survivors. The cause was attributed to pilot error in challenging weather conditions, including thick fog, which severely limited visibility.
Feb 14, 1990– Indian Airlines Flight 605, a Boeing 737-300, crashed while attempting to land at Bangalore International Airport (now Kempegowda International Airport). The crash resulted in the deaths of 92 people out of the 146 on board. The cause was identified as pilot error, particularly failure to go around when a proper approach was not possible.
Aug 16, 1991– Indian Airlines Flight 257, a Fokker F-27 Friendship, crashed while attempting to land at Bhubaneswar Airport, Odisha. The crash resulted in the deaths of 55 people out of the 61 aboard. The cause was attributed to pilot error and poor weather conditions, including heavy rain and low visibility.
Apr 26, 1993– Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737-200, crashed while attempting to land at Kochi Airport in Kerala. The crash resulted in 55 fatalities out of the 70 people aboard. The cause was linked to pilot error and poor visibility during the approach, compounded by weather conditions.
Nov 12, 1996– the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision occurred near Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, between Saudia Flight 763, a Boeing 747, and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Ilyushin Il-76. The collision resulted in 349 fatalities, making it the deadliest aviation accident in India. The crash was caused by a miscommunication between air traffic control and the pilots, compounded by poor visibility in the area.
July 17, 2000– Alliance Air Flight 7412, a Boeing 737, crashed while attempting to land at Patna Airport, Bihar. The crash claimed the lives of 60 people out of the 62 aboard. The cause was attributed to pilot error, with the aircraft stalling due to a loss of control during final approach.
Sept 4, 2009– Air India Express Flight 202, a Boeing 737-800, crashed while attempting to land at Mangalore International Airport, Karnataka. The crash resulted in 158 fatalities out of the 166 people aboard. The accident was caused by the aircraft overshooting the runway, and it plunged into a valley, bursting into flames.
Aug 7, 2020– Air India Express Flight 1344, a Boeing 737-800, crashed while attempting to land at Karipur Airport (Calicut International Airport) in Kerala. The aircraft overshot the runway, fell into a valley, and broke into pieces, resulting in 21 fatalities out of the 165 people aboard. The crash occurred during heavy rainfall and poor visibility; the plane skidded off the runway and broke through the airport’s perimeter wall.
The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 has left a profound impact on the nation, highlighting the critical importance of aviation safety and emergency preparedness. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the need for rigorous safety protocols and swift response mechanisms to prevent such tragedies in the future.