The crash of a London-bound Air India flight with 242 people on board has sent shockwaves through the world’s most populous country, whose aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent decades.
There are no confirmed reports of casualties or survivors.
Air India was bought by Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group in 2022, and was widely regarded as a historic homecoming. Originally founded by J.R.D. Tata in 1932 before being nationalized in 1953, the deal marked the return of Air India to its original owners after nearly 70 years of government control.
Prior to the purchase, Air India was seen as a struggling, debt-ridden airline. The carrier has seen a few rare but high-profile plane crashes through the years.
Previous accidents: At least 18 people died in 2020 after an Air India Express plane — a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India — crashed in the southern state of Kerala after skidding off the runway. In 2018, an Air India Boeing 737 aircraft was damaged after hitting an airport wall during takeoff. And in 2010, 158 people were killed after an Air India plane crashed after the jet overshot a runway in southern India, one of the deadliest plane crashes the country has seen.
These incidents have spurred Indian authorities to improve its safety and infrastructure. However, some challenges remain, including airspace congestion.
Since Air India’s 2022 acquisition, the airline has undergone a significant transformation and modernization effort as it looks to tap into the demand of India’s burgeoning middle class.
