Air India's Long Trail Of Tragedies: Timeline Of Eerie Crashes That Haunt 'Maharajah' Of Skies

Air India, India's national carrier which is often referred as the 'Maharajah', has served as a symbol of the country's aviation ambitions since its founding in 1932.

However, over the decades, the airline has also been marred by several high-profile and tragic accidents, ranging from pilot error and bad weather to sabotage and runway mishaps.

Photo Credit: PTI

The devastating crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad today has once again thrown the airline's safety record into the spotlight.

A Timeline of Tragedies

One of the earliest and most mysterious crashes in Air India's history occurred on 24 January 1966, when Flight 101, a Boeing 707, crashed into Mont Blanc while descending into Geneva.

All 117 people on board were killed. Notably, this was the second Air India flight to crash into Mont Blanc - the first occurred in 1950 under eerily similar circumstances.

On 1 January 1978, tragedy struck again when Flight 855, a Boeing 747, plunged into the Arabian Sea moments after taking off from Mumbai.

The crash was later attributed to pilot spatial disorientation, and all 213 passengers and crew perished, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in Indian aviation history.

Another devastating accident came on 21 June 1982, when Flight 403, a Boeing 707, crashed while attempting to land in Mumbai amid heavy rain. A failed go-around attempt caused the aircraft to hit obstacles and catch fire, killing 17 people out of the 111 on board.

But perhaps the darkest day in Air India's history was 23 June 1985, when Flight 182, a Boeing 747 en route from Montreal to Delhi via London, exploded mid-air off the coast of Ireland.

The cause was a bomb planted by Sikh extremists, making it one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism before 9/11. All 329 people on board were killed, including 268 Canadian citizens, marking Canada's worst aviation disaster.

Era of Air India Express

Air India's low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, was launched to serve international destinations, mainly in the Middle East. However, it too has suffered two fatal crashes.

On 22 May 2010, Flight IX812, a Boeing 737 operating from Dubai to Mangalore, overshot the runway and crashed down a hillside. The airport's tabletop runway configuration proved fatal as the aircraft burst into flames, killing 158 of the 166 people on board.

A similar disaster unfolded on 7 August 2020, when Flight IX1344 from Dubai attempted to land at Kozhikode airport during heavy rainfall.

The Boeing 737 skidded off the tabletop runway and broke apart in a gorge, resulting in the deaths of 21 passengers, including both pilots, and leaving over 100 injured.

June 12, 2025 Ahmedabad Crash

On 12 June 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner headed to London from Ahmedabad, crashed shortly after takeoff. Eyewitnesses reported thick smoke rising from the Meghani area near the airport.

At the time of filing this report, the cause is still under investigation, and casualty figures have not been finalised.

However, early reports suggest a major technical failure may have been involved. The crash has reignited public concern over safety protocols and maintenance procedures at the carrier.

Looking Ahead

While Air India has played a pivotal role in connecting India to the world, its history is checkered with multiple high-casualty incidents.

Despite modernisation efforts and a recent ownership transfer to the Tata Group, questions about training standards, infrastructure, and aircraft maintenance remain critical.

The Ahmedabad crash serves as a stark reminder of the airline's troubled past-and a call to action for systemic change.