The 10 Deadliest Plane Crashes of All Time

In the last decades, there have been hundreds of airplane crashes globally, with mountainous regions experiencing the highest death tolls. However, some incidents stand out as among the deadliest plane crashes in history, garnering attention for their devastating loss of life. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10.

1. Tenerife Air Disaster (1977)

The Tenerife incident, the deadliest in aviation history, saw 583 out of 644 individuals perish when two Boeing 747s—one from KLM and the other from Pan Am—collided during takeoff from Tenerife Airport. Poor visibility caused by fog and communication errors from the control tower exacerbated the tragedy. Many victims’ bodies were unrecoverable due to severe burns.

2. Malaysian Airlines MH17 Flight (2014)

In 2014, the world witnessed one of the deadliest plane crashes in history. The flight, originating from Amsterdam and bound for Beijing, mysteriously vanished from radar mid-flight. It was later confirmed that the plane was shot down by a Russian missile, possibly by Ukrainian rebels, over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew members onboard lost their lives. This incident reignited tensions between Russia and the United States, with Ukraine caught in the middle.

3. Japan Airlines Flight 123 Incident (1985)

In third place for the deadliest plane crashes is Japan Airlines Flight 123. Departing Tokyo-Haneda for Osaka on August 12, 1985, the fully loaded flight experienced a catastrophic failure just 12 minutes after takeoff. With the aircraft’s rear bulkhead failing, the pilot lost control, leading to a crash into Mount Takamagahara. Rescue efforts were hindered by the mountain’s rugged terrain, resulting in 524 fatalities out of 528 individuals on board, including crew and passengers.

4. Iran Air 655 Incident (1988)

As Iran Air Flight 655 made its way from Bandar Abbas to Dubai, disaster struck when it was hit by a missile. The missile, mistakenly launched by the U.S. Navy’s Vincennes, misidentified the civilian flight as a military target. The tragic event claimed 290 lives, including 66 children, as the aircraft crashed into the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq War. Despite the US acknowledging responsibility and compensating victims’ families with $62 million, the US authorities didn’t issue formal apologies to Iran.

5. Charkhi Dadri Air Crash (1993)

In 1993, a tragic collision occurred over Charkhi Dadri, India. The incident involved Saudi Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907. It resulted in 349 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes in history. The crash was attributed to the Kazakhstan Airlines Flight descending below its assigned altitude during landing, leading to a collision with Saudi Flight 763.

6. Pan Am Flight 103 (1988)

Pan Am Flight 103, traveling from Frankfurt to Detroit via London, exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. A bomb hidden in a suitcase caused the explosion, resulting in 270 fatalities, including 11 on the ground. The attack was later attributed to Abd el-Basset Ali al-Megrahi, commissioned by Libya. 

7. Air India 182 (1985)

Bound for India via London-Heathrow from Montreal, Canada, Air India Flight 182 exploded over Irish skies due to a bomb planted by Sikh extremists. This retaliation followed the 1984 Operation Blue Star against Sikh terrorism by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. All 329 individuals on board perished, including 280 Canadians of Indian descent. 

8. Saudia Flight 163 Fire (1980)

Saudia Flight 163, departing from Riyadh Airport, caught fire just six minutes into the flight on August 19, 1980. Despite a prompt return to the airport, all passengers perished in the blaze as evacuation orders were not given.

9. The New York Collision (1960)

In 1960, a plane collision in New York resulted in fatalities among passengers and bystanders. The incident involved a United Airlines flight bound for Idlewild and a TWA flight heading to La Guardia. Miscommunication between air traffic controllers and pilots led to the collision, with the United Airlines plane crashing in Brooklyn.

10. The Grand Canyon Mid-Air Collision (1956)

In June 1956, 128 people lost their lives in a devastating plane crash. A United Airlines Douglas DC-7 collided with a Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049 over Arizona, with no survivors or witnesses. Forensic analysis attributed the accident to failures in the air traffic control system, overwhelmed by the growing number of aircraft in US airspace.