A devastating new tragedy has shaken the aviation world. On Thursday, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, with 242 people on board. The crash occurred near the Indian city of Ahmedabad, leading to a full-scale emergency response.
While authorities initially feared there were no survivors, a senior Indian police official later confirmed to ANI News that one passenger had miraculously survived. The exact casualty count is still being determined, according to Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik.
Air India has since released the nationalities of those onboard:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 1 Canadian
- 7 Portuguese citizens
Families are being contacted, and embassies are providing consular support. For official updates, visit Air India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation India.
The Biggest Plane Crashes of the 21st Century
This incident now joins the list of some of the biggest and deadliest plane crashes in recent decades. These events, while rare, have led to global discussions on flight safety, aircraft design, and emergency preparedness.
1. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 (2014)
- Date: July 17, 2014
- Fatalities: 298
- Cause: Shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine
The Boeing 777 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was brought down in a conflict zone. A UN aviation panel later blamed Russia, though Moscow denies involvement.
2. Iranian Military Plane Crash (2003)
- Date: February 19, 2003
- Fatalities: 275
A Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76 carrying members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps crashed due to bad weather near Kerman. The aircraft disappeared from radar an hour after takeoff.
3. American Airlines Flight 587 (2001)
- Date: November 12, 2001
- Fatalities: 265 (260 on board, 5 on the ground)
The Airbus A300, departing from New York’s JFK Airport, crashed into the Queens neighborhood just two months after 9/11. It was headed to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
4. Algerian Military Plane Crash (2018)
- Date: April 11, 2018
- Fatalities: 257
A Russian-built Il-76 transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from a military base near Algiers. Most passengers were military personnel and their families.
5. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 (2014)
- Date: March 8, 2014
- Fatalities: 239
The aircraft vanished during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Despite global search efforts in the Indian Ocean, the Boeing 777-200 has never been fully located. A renewed search was launched in 2024.
Malaysia Airlines MH370 Updates
6. Air France Flight AF447 (2009)
- Date: June 1, 2009
- Fatalities: 228
The Airbus A330 disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean while flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. It took two years to locate the wreckage and retrieve black boxes.
7. China Airlines Flight 611 (2002)
- Date: May 25, 2002
- Fatalities: 225
A Boeing 747-200 broke up mid-air and crashed into the Taiwan Strait about 20 minutes after taking off from Taipei. Investigation later revealed the plane had a prior tailstrike repair issue.
Why Do Plane Crashes Still Happen?
Even with today’s advanced technology and rigorous safety protocols, aviation disasters can occur due to:
- Mechanical failure
- Human error
- Severe weather
- Sabotage or conflict
- Air traffic control issues
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), modern aviation is statistically one of the safest modes of transportation. In fact, in 2023, there were fewer than 2.5 accidents per million flights worldwide.
ICAO Safety Reports
Final Thoughts
The Air India crash is a sorrowful reminder that even in a high-tech world, disasters can strike unexpectedly. As investigations continue, aviation authorities will likely evaluate black box data, flight logs, and crew communication to determine the cause.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May this tragedy lead to deeper improvements in global aviation safety standards.
