Deadliest Air Disasters of the 21st Century Listed

A London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed in India on Thursday. According to police reports, there appear to be no survivors.

The crash marks one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent years. Here’s a look at the deadliest air disasters in the 21st century, not including the September 11, 2001 attacks:

298 killed – Ukraine (2014)
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people aboard, including 193 Dutch nationals, died. The UN’s aviation agency later held Russia responsible, a claim Moscow rejected.

275 killed – Iran (2003)
On February 19, 2003, a Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard crashed near Kerman, killing all 275 onboard. The plane requested an emergency landing due to poor weather before disappearing from radar.

265 killed – New York (2001)
American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300, crashed in Queens, New York, shortly after takeoff on November 12, 2001. All 260 people onboard and five on the ground perished. The flight was headed to the Dominican Republic.

257 killed – Algeria (2018)
On April 11, 2018, an Algerian military Ilyushin Il-76 crashed near Algiers shortly after takeoff. All 257 people onboard, mostly military personnel and their families, were killed.

Crashes Over Water:

• 239 killed – Malaysia Airlines MH370 (2014):
  Disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The aircraft was never found despite an extensive search in the Indian Ocean.

• 228 killed – Air France AF447 (2009):
  Crashed into the Atlantic after leaving Rio de Janeiro for Paris. It took two years to recover the wreckage.

• 225 killed – China Airlines Flight 611 (2002):
  Disintegrated mid-air over the Taiwan Strait shortly after takeoff from Taipei. All onboard died.

These incidents highlight the continued risks of commercial aviation, even in an age of advanced technology and stringent safety protocols.