A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon, triggering a massive emergency response. Flight AI171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it went down minutes after departure.
Here are 5 devastating air crashes that mirror the Air India Ahmedabad crash
1. Jeju Air Flight (Bangkok to Seoul, December 29, 2024)
Scale and Impact:
This recent disaster involved a Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 passengers and 6 crew. The aircraft attempted an emergency landing at Muan Airport, South Korea, after experiencing in-flight issues. Tragically, the plane belly-landed, veered off the runway, and erupted in flames after colliding with a wall. Of the 187 people on board, 179 lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in recent years.
Similarity to Ahmedabad Crash:
Like the Ahmedabad incident, the Jeju Air crash involved a modern commercial jet with a high passenger load, a catastrophic fire upon impact, and a crash that occurred during a critical phase of flight (emergency landing), resulting in near-total fatalities.
2. Lion Air Flight 610 (Jakarta, Indonesia, October 29, 2018)
Scale and Impact:
Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed into the Java Sea just 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. The crash was the first of two fatal 737 MAX accidents that led to the worldwide grounding of the aircraft type.
Similarity to Ahmedabad Crash:
Both incidents involved a crash shortly after takeoff, a large passenger count, and a modern aircraft. The Lion Air crash also highlighted the dangers of technical failures (in this case, the MCAS system) during the critical climb-out phase, similar to the technical scrutiny now facing the Ahmedabad crash1.
3. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 10, 2019)
Scale and Impact:
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, another Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. The crash, like Lion Air 610, was attributed to problems with the aircraft’s automated flight control system.
Similarity to Ahmedabad Crash:
This disaster shares the pattern of a modern jet crashing soon after departure, with a total loss of life and global ramifications for aviation safety and regulation. The technical issues and the rapid loss of control echo the suspected mechanical or systems failure in the Ahmedabad event1.
4. Metrojet Flight 9268 (Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 31, 2015)
Scale and Impact:
An Airbus A321 operating as Metrojet Flight 9268 broke up in flight over the Sinai Peninsula shortly after takeoff, killing all 224 people on board. The crash was later attributed to an onboard explosive device.
Similarity to Ahmedabad Crash:
While the cause (terrorism) differed, the scale—hundreds of passengers lost, a crash soon after takeoff, and a catastrophic breakup of a modern airliner—mirrors the tragic magnitude and immediate aftermath of the Ahmedabad crash.
5. Germanwings Flight 9525 (French Alps, March 24, 2015)
Scale and Impact:
Germanwings Flight 9525, an Airbus A320, crashed into the French Alps during descent from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, killing all 150 people on board. The crash was later determined to be a deliberate act by the co-pilot.
Similarity to Ahmedabad Crash:
While the cause was different (pilot action), the disaster involved a modern, full passenger jet, total loss of life, and a crash during a critical flight phase. The scale of the tragedy and the global response were similar to those seen after the Ahmedabad crash.
Each of these crashes, like the Air India Ahmedabad tragedy, occurred with modern commercial jets carrying large numbers of passengers, involved catastrophic loss of life, and led to major discussions about aviation safety, technology, and regulation. They underscore the persistent risks in commercial aviation and the ongoing need for vigilance, technological improvement, and robust safety oversight worldwide.
