Today's date, July 17, carries a sombre reputation in the journals of aviation safety. Throughout history, this ill-fated date has witnessed a series of catastrophic accidents, each leaving an indelible mark on the aviation industries of India and the world.
From the MH17 shootdown nine years ago, to an Alliance Air aircraft crashing in India, July 17 has, coincidentally, had a series of air tragedies.
One of the most chilling incidents occurred on July 17, 2014, when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine's conflict zone of Donetsk Oblast, during the Russian annexation of Crimea. In the tragic incident, all 298 passengers and crew aboard the flight were killed, making it the worst airline disaster in history.
Incidentally, it took place just four months after the disappearance of MH370.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of armed conflicts intersecting with civilian air travel, and marked the potential beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War.
Another harrowing disaster took place in 2007 when TAM Airlines (now LATAM) Flight 3054 crashed during landing in São Paulo, Brazil. The Airbus A320, in heavy rain, veered off the runway and collided with a warehouse, claiming the lives of all 187 people on board and 12 individuals on the ground.
Today, 16 years ago, TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overran the runway at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, killing 199 people.#TAM #Flight3054 #Airlines #Accident #Brazil #History #Event #Learning #World #Anniversary pic.twitter.com/VQtJUKQE4n
— That Day In History (@ThatDayHistory) July 17, 2023
This catastrophe surpassed previous incidents, becoming the deadliest aviation disaster in South America.
The year 1996 witnessed the blowing off of TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747 that exploded mid-air off the coast of East Moriches, New York. The explosion tragically claimed the lives of all 230 passengers and crew on board.
#OTD in 1996: TWA 800 crash off East Moriches, NY (USA) https://t.co/fi6QvuJ7dt pic.twitter.com/zZ7DCSHMUd
— Air Crash Daily (@aircrashdaily) July 17, 2022
Although initial speculation of a possible shootdown or bombing surfaced, subsequent investigations attributed the disaster to a short circuit igniting fuel vapours in the central fuel tank.
On July 17, 2000, Alliance Air Flight 7412, a flight from Calcutta to Delhi, tragically crashed into a building in Patna during its stopover. The Boeing 737-2A8 nosedived during approach, resulting in the loss of 60 lives, including five individuals on the ground.
#OTD in 2000: Alliance Air 7412 crash in Patna (India) https://t.co/cCgNum54lO pic.twitter.com/9mtIlJESgS
— Air Crash Daily (@aircrashdaily) July 17, 2022
The official investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation determined that the crash was the result of a pilot error.
Beyond these big disasters, numerous other aviation tragedies have occurred on July 17. TAM Airlines Flight 304 met a devastating end in Indonesia, and a US Marines aircraft plummeted in Florida, among others.
However, while July 17 is remembered as a dark day in aviation history, point to note is that all of these disasters taking place on the same day -- July 17 -- is purely coincidental. Any day is as safe or as unsafe for a flight, whichever way you want to look at it.