Kolkata: In a deadly tragey, an Air India flight AI-171 which was travelling from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has crashed immediately after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the Gujarat city. There were 242 people on board the aircraft, consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.
The plane departed from Ahmedabad airport at 1.17pm and was scheduled to arrive in London at 6.09pm. However, it went down moments after take-off, crashing into a densely populated neighbourhood close to the airport. A social media post on X by Air India read: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.” In this moment of tragedy, we will take a look at some of the deadliest aviation accidents in the history of India.
Deadliest plane crashes in Indian history
1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision
On November 12, 1996, Saudia Flight 763, a Boeing 747 flying from Delhi to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, flying from Kazakhstan’s Chimkent to Delhi, collided over the Charkhi Dadri, around 100 km west of Delhi. It killed all 349 people on board both planes. It is the deadliest mid-air collision in world and also the deadliest aviation accident in India.
Indian Airlines Flight 257 crash
On August 16, 1991, Indian Airlines Flight 257 crashed into the hilly terrain of Thangjing Hill during its descent. The accident killed all 63 passengers and 6 crew members on board.
Indian Airlines Flight 605 crash
On February 14, 1990, Indian Airlines Flight 605 was flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru when it crashed onto a golf course while trying to land at the latter place. The accident killed 92 of 146 people on board.
Indian Airlines Flight 113 crash
On October 19, 1988, Indian Airlines Flight 113 operating from Mumbai to Ahmedabad crashed on its final approach to Ahmedabad Airport. It killed 133 of the 135 people on board.
Air India Flight 855 crash
On January 1, 1978, Air India Flight 855 was scheduled to fly from Mumbai to Dubai when it crashed into the Arabian Sea about 3 km off the coast of Bandra. It killed all 213 passengers and crew on board.
Indian Airlines Flight 171 crash
On October 12, 1976, Indian Airlines Flight 171 crashed while attempting an emergency landing at now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. It killed all 95 people on board.
Indian Airlines Flight 440 crash
On May 31, 1973, Indian Airlines Flight 440 crashed while approaching New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. It killed 48 of the 65 passengers and crew on board.
Japan Air Lines Flight 471 crash
On June 14, 1972, Japan Air Lines Flight 471, while flying from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, crashed near the airport. It killed 86 of the 89 people on board along with four people on ground.
Air India Express Flight 1344 crash
Air India Express Flight 1344 crashed on August 7, 2020, while travelling from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Kozhikode. It crashed while landing at Calicut International Airport and it was bringing back Indian nationals stranded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 20 people died in the accident while over 100 110 people were injured.
Air India Express Flight 812
Air India Express Flight 812 was flying from Dubai International Airport to Mangalore International Airport and it crashed on May 22, 2010, while landing at Mangalore. The flight had 166 passengers and crew on board, out of which 158 were killed.
Ghatkopar plane crash
On June 28, 2018, a King Air C-90 charter aircraft crashed during a test flight in the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar. Four people on board the aircraft, two pilots and two aircraft maintenance engineers, as well as a bystander, were killed in the incident. The plane belonged to U Y Aviation Pvt Ltd which had a pact with Indamar Aviation Pvt Ltd for carrying out repairs and making the aircraft serviceable.
2019 Indian Air Force An-32 crash
On June 3, 2019, a transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force going from Assam’s Jorhat Airport to Arunachal Pradesh’s Mechuka lost contact with ground control about 33 minutes after takeoff. There were 13 people on board and the wreckage with no survivors was found near Pari hills close to Gatte village in Arunachal Pradesh.
Alliance Air Flight 7412 crash
On July 17, 2000, an Alliance Air Flight 7412 scheduled from Kolkata to Delhi, crashed while approaching its first stopover in Patna. It was a Boeing 737-2A8 that nose-dived and crashed into a residential area in Patna, killing 60 people including 5 on the ground.
Indian Airlines Flight 491 crash
On April 26, 1993, Indian Airlines Flight 491 crashed shortly after take-off after the aircraft collided with a lorry and a high tension power line. It killed 55 people and injured 63 others.
2016 Indian Air Force An-32 crash
On July 22, 2016, an Indian Air Force aircraft crashed while flying over the Bay of Bengal. It was flying from Chennai’s Tambaram Air Force Station to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ Port Blair. There were 29 people on board and its wreckage was discovered in January 2024 off the coast of Chennai. It indicated that the plane crashed into the sea and nobody survived it.
