Airline crashes in India have multifaceted impacts on the country’s growth, affecting various sectors including aviation, tourism, economy, and public confidence.
While airplane crashes have immediate and often severe negative impacts, they can also lead to long-term improvements in safety standards, infrastructure, and regulations, which ultimately contribute to the resilience and growth of India’s aviation sector and overall economic development. Several major fatal airplane crashes have occurred in India. Here are some of the most significant:
Indian Airlines Flight 171 (1970): A Sud Aviation Caravelle crashed shortly after takeoff from Mumbai due to an in-flight fire. All 89 passengers and crew on board were killed. The cause of the fire was not conclusively determined, but it was suspected to be due to an engine failure or fuel leak.
Air India Flight 403 (1976): This Boeing 747 crashed while landing at Mumbai due to a microburst-induced wind shear. The crash resulted in the deaths of 95 out of 213 people on board. Adverse weather conditions and wind shear were determined to be the causes.
Air India Flight 855 (1978): A Boeing 747 crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Mumbai, killing all 213 passengers and crew on board. Pilot error was cited as the primary cause.
Air India Flight 403 (1982): A Boeing 707 crashed while attempting to land in heavy rain at Mumbai’s Santacruz Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of 17 passengers and crew out of 111 on board. Poor weather and pilot error were cited as causes.
Indian Airlines Flight 113 (1988): This flight crashed while attempting to land in heavy fog at Ahmedabad, killing 130 of the 135 people on board. Poor visibility and pilot error were significant factors.
Indian Airlines Flight 605 (1990): An Airbus A320 crashed on its final approach to Bangalore, killing 92 of the 146 people on board. Pilot error and a misinterpretation of the flight instruments were determined to be the causes.
Indian Airlines Flight 257 (1991): A Boeing 737 crashed into the hills near Imphal during its descent, killing all 69 people on board. The crash was attributed to controlled flight into terrain due to navigational errors.
Indian Airlines Flight 491 (1993): A Boeing 737 crashed during takeoff from Aurangabad Airport, hitting a truck on the highway. The crash resulted in the deaths of 55 out of 118 passengers and crew. The primary causes were pilot error and the truck’s unauthorized presence on the runway.
Alliance Air Flight 7412 (2000): A Boeing 737 crashed into a residential area while attempting to land at Patna, killing 60 of the 62 people on board and 5 people on the ground. Pilot error and adverse weather conditions contributed to the crash.
Air India Express Flight 812 (2010): A Boeing 737 overran the runway while landing at Mangalore Airport, fell into a gorge, and caught fire. Out of 166 passengers and crew, 158 were killed. Pilot error and fatigue were identified as causes.
Air India Express Flight IX-1344 (2020): A Boeing 737-800 overshot the runway and crashed at Calicut International Airport during a landing attempt in heavy rain, killing 21 out of 190 people on board. Pilot error, adverse weather conditions, and runway conditions were cited as contributing factors.