India has a long history of aviation, but unfortunately, it has also witnessed some deeply tragic air accidents. These events have led to significant loss of life and have often prompted major changes in aviation safety regulations. This article recounts some of the most devastating air crashes in India’s aviation history, explaining the circumstances and causes in simple terms.
1. Indian Airlines Flight 440 (May 31, 1973)
What happened: Indian Airlines Flight 440, a Boeing 737 aircraft, was on its way from Chennai (then Madras) to New Delhi. As it approached Palam International Airport in New Delhi, it encountered a severe dust and rainstorm, making visibility very poor. Tragically, the aircraft hit high-tension electrical wires and crashed.
Aircraft: Boeing 737-2A8
Route: Madras (now Chennai) to New Delhi
The toll: Out of the 65 people on board, 48 lost their lives in this accident.
Why it happened: Investigations revealed that the main reason for the crash was the flight crew descending too low, below the minimum safe altitude required for landing in such conditions.
2. Air India Flight 855 (January 1, 1978)
What happened: On New Year’s Day, Air India Flight 855, a massive Boeing 747 named “Emperor Ashoka,” took off from Mumbai (then Bombay) heading for Dubai. Shortly after takeoff, it plunged into the Arabian Sea, just about 3 kilometers off the coast of Bandra.
Aircraft: Boeing 747-237B
Route: Mumbai to Dubai
The toll: All 213 passengers and crew members on board perished in this disaster.
Why it happened: The most likely cause determined by investigators was that the captain became disoriented, meaning he lost his sense of direction and position relative to the ground, after one of the flight instruments malfunctioned, leading to a loss of control over the aircraft.
3. Indian Airlines Flight 113 (October 19, 1988)
What happened: Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737, was on its final approach to Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, flying from Mumbai. The crash happened very close to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Aircraft: Boeing 737-2A8
Route: Mumbai to Ahmedabad
The toll: Out of 135 people on board, a heartbreaking 133 died.
Why it happened: This accident was a result of a combination of errors. Both the pilots and air traffic control were at fault. The pilots were too focused on trying to visually spot the runway in poor visibility and lost track of their altitude. Additionally, the airport staff failed to provide crucial “Runway Visual Range” measurements, which indicate how far a pilot can see down the runway.
4. Indian Airlines Flight 605 (February 14, 1990)
What happened: On Valentine’s Day, Indian Airlines Flight 605, an Airbus A320, crashed near Hindustan Airport in Bangalore, specifically in the area of the Karnataka Golf Club.
Aircraft: Airbus A320-231
Route: Mumbai to Bengaluru
The toll: 92 people died out of the 146 on board.
Why it happened: The Indian investigation team concluded that the primary cause was pilot error. The pilots mistakenly selected a “Open descent/flight idle” control mode, which means the engines would go to idle and the plane would descend without power, instead of the correct “Glideslope capture” mode for landing. Despite automated warnings about low altitude, they failed to increase engine power or pull up the aircraft.
5. 1996 Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision (November 12, 1996)
What happened: This was a catastrophic event where two airplanes collided in mid-air over Charkhi Dadri, a town about 100 km west of Delhi. One plane was Saudia Flight 763, a Boeing 747 heading from Delhi to Dhahran, and the other was Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Ilyushin Il-76 flying from Chimkent to Delhi.
Aircraft: Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 (Boeing 747) & Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 (Ilyushin Il-76)
Location: Near Charkhi Dadri, Haryana
The toll: All 349 people on board both aircraft were killed. This remains the world’s deadliest mid-air collision and the deadliest aviation accident in India’s history.
Why it happened: The investigation’s final report pinpointed the failure of the Kazakh crew to maintain their assigned altitude as the main cause. Other contributing factors included the Kazakh cockpit crew’s poor English language skills, which led to misunderstandings with air traffic control, and issues with how the crew managed their duties.
6. Alliance Air Flight 7412 (July 17, 2000)
What happened: Alliance Air Flight 7412, a Boeing 737, was a domestic flight from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi with a stopover in Patna. As it was approaching Patna, the aircraft suddenly nose-dived and crashed into a residential area.
Aircraft: Boeing 737-2A8
Route: Kolkata to Delhi via Patna and Lucknow
The toll: 60 people died, including 5 on the ground in the residential area.
Why it happened: The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation found that pilot error was the cause. The aircraft was approaching with its engines at idle power, and the crew made several maneuvers that pitched the aircraft nose-up too much. When the plane warned of an impending stall (losing lift), the crew tried to “go around” (abort landing and try again) instead of performing a stall recovery, which caused the aircraft to actually stall and crash.
7. Air India Express Flight 812 (May 22, 2010)
What happened: Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737, was an international flight from Dubai that crashed upon landing at Mangalore International Airport in India. The aircraft overshot the runway, fell down a hillside, and caught fire.
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Route: Dubai to Mangalore
The toll: Out of 166 passengers and crew, 158 tragically lost their lives.
Why it happened: The accident occurred because the captain continued an unstable approach to landing, even though the first officer repeatedly urged him to “go-around” (abort the landing and try again). This led to the aircraft going beyond the end of the runway.
8. Air India Express Flight 1344 (August 7, 2020)
What happened: Air India Express Flight 1344, a Boeing 737, was an international flight from Dubai to Kozhikode (Calicut) in India, part of the mission to bring back Indian citizens stranded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The flight crew attempted to land twice but aborted due to heavy rain and strong tailwinds. On the third attempt, the plane touched down but skidded off the end of the “tabletop” runway and slid down a steep slope.
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Route: Dubai to Kozhikode
The toll: 21 people died, including 19 passengers and both pilots. While 110 people were injured, 169 managed to survive this harrowing accident.
Why it happened: The cause of this accident was a runway overrun due to pilot error, exacerbated by the very poor weather conditions.
9. Air India Flight 171 (June 12, 2025)
What happened: Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat. The aircraft, which was bound for London Gatwick Airport, crashed into a hostel block of B. J. Medical College in Ahmedabad. The flight crew reported a loss of power and thrust before the crash.
Plane: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner
Route: Ahmedabad → London Gatwick
The toll: This recent tragedy resulted in 241 fatalities on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, and at least 39 fatalities on the ground. (Total 274)
Why it happened: The cause of this recent crash is currently under active investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). More details will emerge as the investigation progresses.
These incidents serve as solemn reminders of the importance of continuous vigilance and improvement in aviation safety. Each tragedy has contributed to stricter regulations, better training, and advancements in aircraft technology, all aimed at preventing future occurrences and ensuring safer skies for everyone.
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