fellow aviation enthusiasts! We’ve got some heavy news from Ahmedabad where an Air India flight AI 171, headed for London, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff. Can you believe it? The plane was packed with 232 passengers when it went down near Ahmedabad Airport, leaving the nearby Meghaninagar area in a complete state of panic. Thick clouds of smoke could even be seen from as far off as Vastrapur. Talk about an alarming sight!
Emergency teams, including firefighters, rushed to the scene, but this incident marks a significant moment in Indian aviation history. It’s the first major plane crash to happen in our skies in the last five years. The last one before this occurred back in 2020 in Kozhikode. Let’s take a moment to remember some of the other heartbreaking aviation disasters in India’s past:
First up, we have the Air India Express Flight IX-1344 crash that happened on August 7, 2020. This flight was part of the Vande Bharat Mission, intended to bring stranded Indians back home during the pandemic. The Boeing 737-800 tried landing at Kozhikode’s tricky tabletop runway in heavy rain when it overshot, tumbling down a 30-foot gorge. It claimed the lives of 21 people, including both pilots, with many others sustaining critical injuries.
Next on our sad list is the Air India Express Flight IX-812 crash from May 22, 2010, at Mangalore International Airport. This Boeing 737-800 also overshot the tabletop runway while attempting to land, resulting in a horrific plunge into a gorge. Out of 166 people on board, 158 lost their lives—a devastating outcome considering many were Indian expats returning home.
Moving further back, we remember the Alliance Air Flight 7412 that went down on July 17, 1998, near Patna Airport. This one was especially tragic since the plane crashed into a crowded residential area while trying a go-around maneuver during landing. We lost 60 lives that day, including those on the ground.
And who could forget the Indian Airlines Flight 491 disaster on April 26, 1993? It collided with a truck on the runway in Aurangabad during takeoff, resulting in a tragic crash that took the lives of 55 out of 118 passengers and crew onboard.
Lastly, let’s not overlook the February 14, 1990, crash of Indian Airlines Flight 605 in Bangalore. The Airbus A320 tragically went down while attempting to land, claiming 92 lives from the 146 onboard. It’s heartbreaking to think about all those lives lost through these accidents.
While we always hope for safe skies, it’s essential to remember the past and learn from it. Here’s hoping for better and safer days ahead for all travelers. Stay safe, everyone!