How Malabar Princess, the first Air India international aircraft, came to be known for a tragic crash

India's flag carrier, Air India, tweeted the photo of postage stamp on Thursday (June 8) to celebrate the diamond jubilee of its first international flight from Bombay to London, via Cairo and Geneva, in 1948.

Air India tweeted on June 8,

The famed aircraft on the stamp, the Malabar Princess (registered VT-CQP), was a brand new Lockheed L-749A Constellation delivered to Air India just a month before the historic flight. Unfortunately, this feat of the Malabar Princess has been overshadowed by an incident just 29 months later, which inspired a few films and books.

Malabar Princess made history

• The 'Princess' left Bombay for London on June 8, 1948 with 35 passengers, 164 passenger bags, and 771 kg of mail in its maiden flight. 

• A bag full of airmail shows the importance of airmail in the absence of other avenues of communication. Back then, a minute call overseas would cost a fortune.
• The first long-haul service out of newly free India helped the country create an impression overseas in the aviation game. The service also opened a new path of opportunities and aspirations for affluent Indians.

Princess's ill fate

• Just 29 months after the first flight, on November 3, 1950, the AI 245, en route to London, tragically crashed into the high (4,677 meters) and tough terrains of Rochers de la Tournette (Tournette Spur) on the west side of Mont Blanc in the French Alps.
• The crash claimed the lives of all 48 individuals on board, including the captain, co-pilot, navigators, a radio operator and all passengers mostly comprised of sailors from the Indian Navy.
• Given the remoteness and adverse conditions of the location, the debris of the Malabar Princess was spotted by another aircraft two days later.
• For many years after the crash, the deceased's belongings kept being discovered in the area. A few expeditions have also been carried out in the location to retrieve more articles and information on the accident.

• On September 30, 2008, French explorer Daniel Roche made a significant discovery, finding the remains of the Malabar Princess aircraft engine on the Bossons glacier, located above Chamonix in the French Alps.

Crash-inspired French films and literature

• The 1950 crash also inspired a few French movies and a book in the later years.
• Henri Troyat drew inspiration from the tragic crash to write his novel, "La Neige en Deuil" or "Snow in Mourning".

• This compelling book, in turn, served as the basis of the 1956 film The Mountain, directed by Edward Dymtryk. The movie featured acclaimed actors Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, and Anna Kashfi. Tracy's exceptional performance earned him a nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.
• Another French movie from 2004 named Malabar Princess portrayed the story of a kid who lost his mom and finds peace in his journey to uncover the Malabar mystery.

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Mont Blanc swallowed a 'Kanchenjunga'

• Just a few hundred meters away from the crash site of the Malabar Princess, is the site of the accident of the AI 101 (Kanchenjunga).
• On January 24, 1966, tragedy struck Air India Flight 101, a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay to London. It collided with the Mont Blanc massif in France.

• The Boeing 707's tragic accident resulted in the loss of all 117 individuals aboard the flight. Among the passengers was Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the founder and chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission.