Worst plane crashes: A look at Air India's deadliest disasters

Date: February 2025
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Fatalities: 241

In what is now the deadliest crash in Air India's history, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft was bound for London (Gatwick) with 242 passengers, including crew members.

Date: January 1, 1978
Location: Arabian Sea, off Mumbai
Fatalities: 213

This devastating crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Mumbai, when the Boeing 747 experienced a critical instrument failure, leading to spatial disorientation. The aircraft plunged into the Arabian Sea, and all 213 people aboard lost their lives. This accident marked one of the first major instances where human factors, such as loss of situational awareness, contributed to a catastrophic crash. The tragedy highlighted critical flaws in instrumentation and pilot training.

Date: May 22, 2010
Location: Mangalore, Karnataka
Fatalities: 158

The second-most deadliest accident in Indian aviation history, Air India Express Flight IX-812, en route from Dubai to Mangalore, overshot the tabletop runway at Mangalore Airport during landing. The Boeing 737 aircraft crashed into a ravine, bursting into flames upon impact. Only 8 passengers survived, most seated in the front rows. Investigators pointed to pilot fatigue and poor judgment as contributing factors to the tragedy, which sparked intense scrutiny over the safety of tabletop runways.

Date: October 19, 1988
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Fatalities: 133

Air India Flight 113, a Boeing 737, crashed during its approach to Ahmedabad Airport, attempting to land in poor visibility. The aircraft overshot the runway, crashed, and exploded, killing 133 people. The crash has eerie similarities to the 2025 Ahmedabad crash of Flight AI 171, with both incidents taking place near the same airport. The disaster raised questions about the adequacy of local weather equipment and navigation aids, issues which remain pertinent today.

Date: August 7, 2020
Location: Kozhikode, Kerala
Fatalities: 21

In a tragic accident during the Vande Bharat Mission, a repatriation flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the tabletop runway during heavy rains and low visibility. The Boeing 737 aircraft skidded off the runway and fell into a 30-foot gorge, breaking into two parts. Both pilots died instantly, and over 100 passengers were injured. The incident raised serious concerns about the safety of tabletop runways, especially in adverse weather conditions.