Aviation accidents: A look back at the world’s deadliest plane crash incidents
PTC Web Desk: A major aviation disaster struck on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming several lives. The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, along with 52 British nationals and six Portuguese citizens.
Emergency responders have recovered several bodies from the crash site so far, though the official death toll and the exact cause of the accident remain under investigation. Preliminary reports suggest a catastrophic failure may have occurred during descent or landing, but the authorities have not confirmed specific details.
This tragic event could rank among the deadliest plane crashes in India's aviation history, prompting renewed concerns about flight safety and emergency response readiness.
A look back at the world’s deadliest air disasters
To place the Ahmedabad crash in a global context, here’s a review of some of the worst air accidents the world has witnessed:
November 1996: Mid-air collision over Haryana, 349 Dead
India’s deadliest air disaster occurred on November 12, 1996, near Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 collided mid-air with a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76. All 349 passengers and crew on both flights perished. The collision was attributed to communication errors and misinterpretation of altitude instructions between pilots and air traffic control.
January 1978: Boeing 747 crashes into Arabian Sea, 213 killed
On January 1, 1978, a Boeing 747 crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after taking off from Mumbai en route to Dubai. Navigational disorientation and technical failure led to the tragedy, resulting in 213 fatalities.
May 2010: Air India Express crash in Mangalore kills 158
On May 22, 2010, Flight 812 from Dubai to Mangalore overshot the runway, plunged into a gorge, and broke into two pieces. Despite good weather, the short table-top runway posed landing challenges. At least 158 out of 166 passengers lost their lives. Investigators found that the pilot was fatigued and made critical errors during landing.
April 1993: Aircraft hits truck during takeoff in Aurangabad, 55 dead
On April 26, 1993, Indian Airlines Flight 491 collided with a truck on the runway while taking off from Aurangabad. The crash caused the aircraft to break apart and catch fire, killing 55 persons and injuring several others. The pilot failed to detect the obstruction in time.
August 2020: Air India Express Flight Crashes in Kerala, 21 dead
On August 7, 2020, a Vande Bharat Mission flight from Dubai skidded off the runway during landing at Kozhikode airport. The table-top runway and heavy rainfall contributed to the crash. At least 21 persons died, and more than 110 were injured.
March 1977: World’s deadliest aviation disaster in Spain, 586 killed
On March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747s—KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736—collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Spain. Miscommunication between pilots and air traffic control led to the collision, killing 586 persons. This remains the deadliest aviation accident in global history.
August 1985: Japan Airlines crash, 520 dead
On August 12, 1985, Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed into mountainous terrain after a pressurisation system failure shortly after takeoff. The crew lost control of the Boeing 747, and 520 of the 524 persons onboard died, making it the deadliest single-aircraft crash to date.
March 1974: Turkish Airlines DC-10 crash near Paris, 346 killed
On March 3, 1974, a Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed into a forest near Paris after its rear cargo door failed mid-flight, causing a loss of cabin pressure and structural integrity. All 346 onboard perished. The tragedy was traced to a critical design flaw, which prompted global aviation safety reforms.
August 1980: Fire on Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, 301 die of suffocation
On August 19, 1980, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar aircraft of Saudi Arabian Airlines caught fire shortly after takeoff from Riyadh. Although the pilot managed a safe landing, delays in evacuation led to the suffocation of all 301 passengers, making it one of the deadliest fire-related air disasters in history.
October 2018: Lion Air Crash in Indonesia, 189 dead
On October 29, 2018, a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the Java Sea just 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta. All 189 onboard died. Investigators later found that a malfunction in the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) caused the crash. This incident raised global concerns about the 737 MAX series.
May 2024: Iranian president dies in helicopter crash
On May 19, 2024, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and 7 others, died when their helicopter crashed in bad weather over mountainous terrain. The incident was one of eight major aviation disasters in 2024, which together claimed 402 lives. Most were caused by engine failure or extreme weather conditions.
2024: Eight major air crashes claim 402 lives globally
In the year 2024, the world witnessed eight major aviation disasters that collectively claimed the lives of 402 persons. Most of these accidents were attributed to poor weather conditions or critical engine failures.
One of the most high-profile tragedies occurred on May 19, 2024, when Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash. The incident took place in mountainous terrain amid severe weather. The crash also claimed the lives of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others.
- With inputs from agencies
