The tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on October 19, 1988, remains a somber chapter in Indian aviation history. Indian Airlines Flight 113, en route from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, crashed during its final approach to Ahmedabad Airport, claiming the lives of 133 out of the 135 passengers and crew on board. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-200, impacted a paddy field approximately 2,540 meters from the runway's beginning, leaving a scene of devastation and loss.
The crash was attributed to pilot error, exacerbated by poor visibility conditions. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, the pilot-in-command and co-pilot failed to adhere to established procedures during the landing approach. The weather conditions at the time, characterized by haze and reduced visibility, were considered a contributing factor to the accident.
Among the passengers were two who miraculously survived the crash: Ashok Agarwal and Vinod Shankar Tripathi. However, the tragedy cast a long shadow over their lives. Agarwal, who lost his wife and 11-month-old daughter in the accident, struggled with the emotional aftermath for years.
In March 2020, Ashok Agarwal was found dead in his Ahmedabad apartment. According to police reports, his body was discovered in a decomposed state, and the cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest. His passing marked a sad end to a life marked by profound loss and the lingering trauma of the 1988 air disaster.
The 1988 Ahmedabad plane crash is remembered as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian civil aviation history. The incident prompted investigations into safety protocols and approach procedures at Ahmedabad Airport. While advancements have been made in aviation safety since then, the memory of the lives lost on that fateful day serves as a constant reminder of the importance of vigilance and adherence to safety regulations in the aviation industry.
The recent Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025, which occurred shortly after takeoff, has brought back memories of the 1988 tragedy.
