Aviation in India has come a long way since its early days, transforming from small domestic routes to a robust international network. But along this journey, the country has also witnessed its fair share of heartbreaking tragedies. These aircraft disasters not only led to immense loss of life but also became pivotal in changing aviation safety protocols. Let’s take a deep dive into the top 10 aircraft disasters in India, exploring what went wrong, what lessons were learned, and how the industry evolved thereafter.
1. Air India Flight 855 – Arabian Sea Crash (1978)
Background and Timeline
On New Year’s Day, January 1, 1978, the festive mood turned tragic when Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 nicknamed Emperor Ashoka, crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Mumbai. The aircraft was en route to Dubai, carrying 213 people including crew and passengers. The takeoff was uneventful, but within a few minutes of departure, the aircraft veered sharply and disappeared from radar.
The flight lasted barely three minutes. Eyewitnesses from the coastline reported seeing the aircraft nosedive and crash, followed by an explosion. The entire country was stunned. Families waiting in Dubai were left in despair, while rescue operations scrambled to reach the crash site.
Cause of the Crash
Investigations revealed a faulty attitude indicator in the captain’s instrumentation. Unfortunately, instead of cross-checking with the co-pilot and flight engineer, the captain made abrupt maneuvers based on the false reading. The aircraft banked steeply to the left and, in the darkness over the Arabian Sea, the disoriented crew could not recover in time.
Experts called it a classic case of spatial disorientation, made worse by poor crew resource management (CRM). At the time, CRM training was minimal or non-existent in Indian aviation. The crash highlighted how crucial cockpit teamwork and cross-verification of instruments are to flight safety.
Aftermath and Safety Reforms
This tragedy led to a significant overhaul in pilot training. Air India, and later other Indian carriers, began to implement CRM programs to enhance in-flight communication. International aviation authorities also took note, adding this case study to pilot training manuals worldwide.
2. Air India Express Flight 812 – Mangalore Crash (2010)
Landing Gone Wrong
On May 22, 2010, Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737-800 from Dubai to Mangalore, overshot the runway and burst into flames. It was early morning, and visibility was decent. Of the 166 people on board, 158 died. The aircraft landed but failed to stop within the tabletop runway at Mangalore International Airport, sliding down a gorge and catching fire.
The crash shocked the nation, not just because of the death toll but also due to the preventable nature of the accident. It was the first major crash of an Air India Express aircraft, and one that exposed deep flaws in pilot decision-making and airport infrastructure.
Human Error and Its Role
The investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) pointed fingers at pilot fatigue and poor judgment. The captain had slept for over 90% of the flight and was disoriented upon waking up during the critical landing phase. He ignored warnings from the co-pilot to abort the landing. The aircraft landed long and at high speed—an almost textbook example of a landing that should have been a “go-around.”
It was also revealed that Mangalore’s runway had limited buffer zones, making any error particularly unforgiving. The combination of poor pilot decisions and an inadequate runway led to one of India’s worst aviation disasters in the 21st century.
Rescue and Investigation Reports
Emergency responders faced difficulty due to the terrain and the fire. Survivors recounted the horrific moments of trying to escape the burning fuselage. The DGCA’s final report emphasized the need for mandatory rest for pilots, better training on go-around decisions, and reevaluation of airports with tabletop runways.
Mangalore Airport received runway enhancements and stricter operational rules after the crash. It also sparked conversations globally about how airlines manage fatigue in high-stress jobs.
3. Indian Airlines Flight 113 – Ahmedabad Crash (1988)
The Final Approach
October 19, 1988, saw another grim day in Indian aviation when Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737 flying from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, crashed during its approach. The flight was on schedule and approaching Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. However, instead of landing safely, it crashed into a field about 2 km short of the runway, killing 133 of the 135 people onboard.
The approach was conducted under foggy conditions, and the aircraft descended below the minimum safe altitude without visual confirmation of the runway.
Weather and Miscommunication
The cockpit voice recorder revealed a string of poor decisions. The pilots continued descent despite not having visual contact with the runway—breaking a cardinal rule of instrument landing systems (ILS). The airport’s instrument landing aids were not functioning optimally, and air traffic control (ATC) failed to alert the pilots in time.
In essence, it was a disaster born from poor visibility, equipment issues, and miscommunication—all critical aspects of aviation that need seamless integration to prevent catastrophe.
Recovery and Victim Memorials
Rescue operations were swift, but the fire and impact left little chance for survival. The crash led to numerous changes in approach procedures, especially in conditions of poor visibility. Ahmedabad Airport upgraded its landing systems, and Indian Airlines revised its protocols for foggy conditions.
The victims were commemorated by local authorities and aviation safety advocates, whose lobbying helped usher in better regulatory oversight in such situations.
4. Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision (1996)
The Deadliest Mid-Air Collision
On November 12, 1996, a chilling mid-air collision between Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 occurred near Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. This remains India’s deadliest aviation disaster and the world’s deadliest mid-air collision, killing all 349 people onboard both aircraft.
The Saudi flight was climbing after taking off from Delhi, while the Kazakh flight was descending to land. In a matter of minutes, the two aircraft slammed into each other at an altitude of 14,000 feet.
Air Traffic Control Failures
The key cause was the Kazakh aircraft’s failure to maintain assigned altitude. Language barriers and misinterpretations played a critical role. At the time, many international pilots did not have English proficiency, making communication with Indian ATC unreliable.
Further investigation also revealed lack of secondary surveillance radar at Delhi ATC, which meant controllers could not confirm aircraft altitudes accurately. This made it extremely difficult to prevent such conflicts in congested airspace.
Global Aviation Changes Post-Accident
This tragedy led to monumental changes in aviation worldwide. India mandated airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS/TCAS) for all commercial aircraft. ICAO also pushed for English language proficiency among all pilots and controllers.
In India, this crash became the foundation for overhauling ATC infrastructure and improving radar surveillance across the country. It also became a key study material in aviation training schools globally.
5. Air India Flight 182 – Kanishka Bombing (1985)
A Terrorist Attack in the Skies
June 23, 1985, marked one of the darkest days in aviation history when Air India Flight 182, known as the Kanishka, was blown up mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 329 people onboard. Though the crash occurred off the Irish coast, the flight originated from Toronto, was en route to Mumbai, and had a significant Indian connection.
This was not an accident but a planned act of terrorism—the deadliest bombing of a commercial flight before 9/11.
International Fallout and Investigation
The bomb, planted in a suitcase, was traced back to Sikh separatists in Canada seeking revenge for Operation Blue Star. Investigations spanned multiple countries and revealed serious lapses in airport security screening, baggage handling, and intelligence sharing.
The Canadian government faced enormous criticism for failing to act on prior warnings. The case took decades to investigate fully, resulting in limited convictions and a deep sense of injustice for the victims’ families.
Commemorations and Lessons Learned
Memorials for the victims stand in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Ireland. India and Canada both overhauled their anti-terror measures for aviation, with strict new protocols for baggage screening and passenger profiling.
The Kanishka tragedy became a painful reminder of the growing nexus between terrorism and aviation. It pushed countries worldwide to treat aviation security as a high-priority issue, laying the groundwork for modern counterterrorism strategies.