India’s Major Air Crashes: A Timeline of Tragedies
India’s Major Air Crashes: A Timeline of Tragedies
Over the years, India has witnessed multiple air accidents, claiming hundreds of lives even before passengers could reach their destinations. Most of these accidents were caused due to a combination of technical failures, adverse weather conditions, and human errors.
- August 7, 2020 – Kozhikode, Kerala
An Air India Express Flight 1344, while attempting to land on the runway at Kozhikode International Airport, overshot the runway and plunged into a nearby valley. - The aircraft broke into two pieces.
- Out of 190 passengers, 21 people died, including both pilots.
- The crash occurred due to heavy rainfall and poor weather conditions.
- May 22, 2010 – Mangaluru, Karnataka
A Boeing 737-800 operated by Air India crashed during landing at Mangalore International Airport. - The aircraft slid off a tabletop runway into a gorge and caught fire.
- 158 people died.
- The pilot misjudged the landing approach due to the difficult terrain.
- July 17, 2000 – Patna, Bihar
Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashed into a residential area near Patna while approaching the runway. - 60 people died, including 55 passengers and 5 civilians on the ground.
- The crash occurred during the final landing phase.
- November 12, 1996 – Charkhi Dadri, Haryana
In India’s worst-ever air disaster, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 collided mid-air with a Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907. - Both aircraft crashed, killing 349 people.
- The accident was caused by a failure in communication and coordination between the two aircraft.
- February 14, 1990 – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Indian Airlines Flight 605 crashed just before landing at HAL Airport. - The aircraft hit the ground beside the runway and crashed into a nearby golf course.
- Out of 146 people on board, 92 died.
- October 19, 1988 – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Indian Airlines Flight 113 struck trees during landing near Ahmedabad airport and burst into flames. - Out of 135 passengers, 133 were killed.
- The accident occurred due to poor visibility caused by thick fog.
- January 1, 1978 – Arabian Sea Crash
Air India Flight 855, en route from Mumbai to Dubai, crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff. - All 213 people on board died.
- The cause was traced to instrument failure and spatial disorientation.
- May 31, 1973 – Delhi, Palam Airport
Indian Airlines Flight 440 struck high-tension power lines just before landing. - The aircraft caught fire on impact.
- Of 65 people on board, 48 lost their lives.
- Adverse weather played a key role in the accident.
Major causes of Air Crashes:
- Mechanical Failure: Engine malfunction, hydraulic issues, or structural fatigue often lead to loss of control mid-air or during landing.
- Human Error: Pilot disorientation, misjudgment during approach, or fatigue account for over 60% of global aviation accidents, as per ICAO data.
- Adverse Weather: Low visibility, wind shear, and microbursts challenge flight control, especially near tabletop runways.
- Communication Breakdown: ATC miscoordination or language barriers can result in mid-air collisions, as seen in the 1996 Charkhi Dadri disaster.
- Technological Failure: Glitches in autopilot, altimeters, or TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) can compromise situational awareness.
- Institutional Negligence: Inadequate safety audits, outdated navigation systems, and poor runway design amplify systemic vulnerabilities.
What is the Swiss Cheese Model?
The Swiss Cheese Model explains how accidents happen when multiple layers of defense fail simultaneously. Each "slice of cheese" represents a defense mechanism—like training, rules, technology, audits, or safety checks.
However, each slice has holes, like Swiss cheese. These holes are:
● Latent failures (invisible design or policy flaws)
● Active failures (human errors, violations)
"An accident occurs only when the holes in all the layers align, allowing the hazard to pass through.”
