Irish Examiner

The Air India Flight 182 Bombing: A Tragic Loss

The Incident

On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747-237B (registration VT-EFO), was operating a scheduled flight from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Delhi, India, via London, England. While over the Atlantic Ocean, the aircraft was destroyed by a bomb, resulting in the deaths of all 329 passengers and crew on board.

The Bombing

The bomb was planted in the aircraft's baggage hold by two Canadian Sikhs, Inderjit Singh Reyat and Talwinder Singh Parmar. The bomb exploded at 07:14 UTC, causing the aircraft to break up in mid-air. The wreckage of the aircraft fell into the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi) off the coast of Ireland.

The Investigation

The investigation into the bombing was conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The investigation revealed that the bombing was carried out by Sikh extremists who were seeking revenge for the Indian government's attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984.

The Aftermath

The Air India Flight 182 bombing was the deadliest act of terrorism in Canadian history. The bombing had a profound impact on the Sikh community in Canada, who were subjected to increased scrutiny and discrimination in the wake of the attack.

Legacy

The bombing of Air India Flight 182 is a reminder of the dangers of terrorism and the importance of international cooperation in combating this threat. The bombing also highlighted the need for increased security measures in the aviation industry.

The Sri Lanka Reporter