The global aviation INDUSTRY, despite its incredible advances in technology and safety, still has an unforgettable dark side. Even though planes are the safest mode of transportation compared to other modes of transportation, incidents still occur.
From incidents caused by human error to unexpected mechanical problems. Several aviation accidents have become a dark part of history.
Let’s explore the deadliest aviation accidents that have ever occurred, both in the world and in Indonesia.
The World’s Deadliest Aviation Accidents
The worst plane crash in the world claimed many lives and caused enormous losses. This dark incident left deep trauma and sorrow in the world of aviation. Here is a list of the worst accidents that have ever occurred.
1. Tenerife Airport Disaster, Worst Accident in History
Recorded as the deadliest aviation accident, this incident occurred in 1977 when two Boeing 747 planes collided at Los Rodeos Airport, Tenerife. Terrorist activity at the home airport forced both planes to land in Tenerife, where thick fog and miscommunication between the pilots and air traffic controllers created a disastrous situation. As a result, 583 people lost their lives, making this incident the deadliest tragedy in aviation history.
2. Japan Airlines Flight 123, Deadly Tragedy on Mount
On August 12, 1985, Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed into a Japanese mountain after experiencing cabin decompression due to structural damage. With 505 passengers and crew killed, this accident was the second deadliest in history. Only four people survived, trapped in the devastating wreckage of the plane.
3. Crash at Charkhi Dadri, Two Planes, One Tragedy
This accident occurred on November 12, 1996, when Saudi Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collided in mid-air over India. A total of 349 lives were lost in this incident, which became one of the deadliest plane crashes ever recorded.
4. Turkish Airlines Flight 981 Crash, Tragedy in Paris Forest
On March 3, 1974, Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed in the Ermenonville forest near Paris, killing all 346 passengers and crew. This was one of the deadliest plane crashes caused by technical failure.
5. Air India Flight 182, Mass Murder in the Sky
This accident occurred on June 23, 1985, when a Boeing 747-237B aircraft was destroyed by a bomb in Irish airspace. With 329 fatalities, this incident was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks before the September 11, 2001 tragedy.
The Worst Aviation Disaster in Indonesia
Indonesia, an archipelagic country that relies heavily on air transportation, also has a dark record regarding aviation accidents. From data from the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) of the Republic of Indonesia, there were 924 cases of aviation accidents that occurred from 1988 – 2024. The following are some of the worst accidents that rocked the country:
1. 1997 Garuda Indonesia accident
With 234 lives lost, this incident occurred when an Airbus A-300B4 plane crashed in North Sumatra. This accident remains the worst in Indonesian aviation history.
2. Lion Air 2018
In October 2018, Lion Air’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed off the coast of Indonesia, killing 189 people. The investigation revealed a problem with the anti-stall system as one of the causes.
3. 2014 AirAsia crash
An AirAsia plane crashed into the Java Sea due to bad weather, killing 162 people. The plane was en route from Surabaya to Singapore.
4. 2005 Mandala Airlines crash
The Mandala Airlines plane crashed shortly after taking off in Medan, killing around 150 people, including passengers, crew and residents around the crash site.
5. 2015 Military Plane Crash
An Indonesian military plane crashed in a residential area in Medan, killing around 122 people on board, as well as a number of civilians on the ground.
These accidents remind us of the importance of safety in aviation. Every tragedy leaves deep sorrow, but also valuable lessons for the global and national aviation industry. In every flight, safety is a top priority that cannot be ignored. (The Economic Times, Aviation Disaster Law/KNKT/Z-3)
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