Skip to main content

23 June 1985 - Air India 182

Air India Flight 182 was an Air India flight operating on the Montréal-London-Delhi-Bombay route. On 23 June 1985, the airplane operating on the route was blown up in midair by a bomb in Irish airspace. The incident represents the largest mass murder in modern Canadian history.

The aircraft left Toronto almost 2 hours late due to the installation of a 5th spare engine, fitted below the left wing. The engine had to be ferried for repairs in India. After a stopover at Montreal, Flight 182 continued to London. The plane, a Boeing 747-237B (c/n 21473/330, reg VT-EFO) named Emperor Kanishka, exploded at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m) and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. While some passengers survived the initial explosion and subsequent decompression, none survived the impact. In all, 329 people perished, among them 280 Canadian nationals, mostly of Indian birth or descent, and 22 Indians.

Investigation and prosecution took almost 20 years and was the most expensive trial in Canadian history, costing nearly CAD $130 million. A special Commission found the accused perpetrators not guilty and they were released. The only person convicted of involvement in the bombing was Inderjit Singh Reyat, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to manslaughter in constructing the bomb used on Flight 182 and received a five-year sentence. He was refused parole in July 2007.


Transcript of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)

Legenda
CAP = Captain
COP = Co-pilot
FE = Flight Engineer
AFP = Att. Flight Purser
IFP = In Flight Supervisor
AI182 = Air India radio communications by the Co-pilot
SR101, 1831, TW770, CP282 = other flight in the area


06.43:42 AI-182 And Air India 182 position.
06.43:56 AI-182 Air India 182 Shanwick position is 51 N 20 W at 0643 level 310 estimate 51 N 15 W at 0704.
06.44:15 Shanwick Roger select position after 15 minutes please.
06.44:20 AI-182 182
06.46:38 AI-182 Shanwick AI-182
06.46:41 Shanwick AI-182 Shanwick could you say your next position after 51 N 15 W please.
06.46:48 AI-182 After that we have 51 N and 8 W, 51 N 8W and thereafter Bunty, Bunty.
06.47:02 Shanwick Roger AI-182 Shanwick confirm 51 N 20 W 0643 310, 51 N 15 W 0704. Next 51 N 8 W. Go ahead.
06.47:14 AI-182 That's affirmative.
06.47:16 Shanwick Roger at 15 W call Shannon 135.6
06.47:21 AI-182 135.6 will do Sir.
06.47:23 SR101 Shanwick Swissair 101 position over.
06.47:26 Shanwick 101 Shanwick standby one.
06.47:27 SR101 Roger
06.50:15   [Cough]
06.55:19   [Cough cough cough]
06.59:41 1831 Shannon 1831
06.59:45 1831 Is flight level 330 available?
06.59:55   Shannon, flight level 330 available.
07.00:05   -------- FL 330
07.00:13   A couple of forms
07.00:16   --- of Air India
07.00:17   What about those forms.
07.00;18   Haaji
07.00:21   Aur wo custom ka form
07.00:25   Baad main.
07.00:29 COP Dinshaw. [name of the Att. Flight Purser]
07.00:29 AFP Yes Sir.
07.00:30 COP Do me a small favour.
07.00:31 AFP What's that.
07.00:32 COP Ekdam end pe, 54 seat pe, a boy is sitting there. Inder Thakur knows. He just wanted to have a look in the cockpit.
07.00:43   Where is he.
07.00:45 COP Inder knows about him.
07.00:47   OK 54 seat.
07.00:50 AFP Can I send him now.
07.00:51 COP After about 15-20 minutes.
07.00:52 AFP OK
07.00:53 COP Thank you.
07.00:54 AFP Welcome Sir.
07.05:08 COP Everybody is having that Whiskey and Beer. Whatever you know. That is what I am saying.
07.05:16 CAP Whitout fail - all of them.
07.05:17 CAP Whatever is allowed.
07.05:19 IFS Kya karega.
07.05:20 COP Nahin.
07.05:21 IFS It is a hard core problem.
07.05:22 COP Nahin.
07.05:24 CAP All I mean, all girls, all ---
07.05:30   Cabin Crew.
07.05:34 COP Cabin crew. Everybody.
07.05:58 CAP They must be carrying for somebody else also.
07.06:00 COP Somebody Ten beers. Six beers.
07.06:03 CAP Ten beers.
07.06:05   Maybe some ---
07.06:07   Hold. Hold.
07.06:39 AI-182 Shanwick AI-182. Good morning.
07.06:49 Shannon Station calling Shannon. Go ahead again.
07.06:54 AI-182 AI-182, AI-182 is 51 N 15 W at 0705 level 310 Estimate FIR 08 W 51 N 08 W at 0735.
07.07:10 Shannon 182 your correct Shannon frequency is 113 15.
07.07:16 AI-182 131 15 Sir.
07.07:22 TWA770 Merlet and upper red 37 to Ibsley and the standard routing.
07.07:32 Shannon 770 that checks, maintain 350.
07.07:34 TWA770 Maintain 35 roger.
07.07:39 Shannon Empress 282 Squawk 2011 an go ahead your progress please.
07.07:43 CP282 282 is 51 N 15 W at 07 370 estimating 51 N 08 W at 35.
07.07:53 Shannon Empress 282 roger cleared Amsterdam via 51 N 08 W upper blue 40 to Brecon upper green 1 Woodley upper blue 29 to Clecton and upper red 1 North to Amsterdam.
07.08:10 CP282 Empress 282 is cleared to Amsterdam 51 N 08 W Upper blue 40 Brecon green 1 Woodley Clecton and upper red 1 Amsterdam.
07.08:21 Shannon Empress 282 that checks. Maintain flight level 370.
07.08:25 CP282 Roger 370.
07.08:28 AI-182 AI-182 good morning.
07.08:34 Shannon AI-182 good morning Squawk 2005 and go ahead please.
07.08:38 AI-182 3005 Squawking and AI-182 is 51 N 15 W at 0705 level 310 estimate FIR 51 N 08 W at 0735 adn BUNTY next.
07.09:02 Shannon AI-182 Shannon Roger cleared London Via 51 N 08 W BUNTY upper Blue 40 to Merley - upper Red 37 to Ibsley F 310.
07.09:19 AI-182 AI-182 is cleared to London via Upper Bravo 50 to BUNTY then Upper Red 27 to Ibsley and maintain 310.
07.09:37 Shannon AI-182 after BUNTY maintain the upper Blue 40- to merley and then upper Red 37.
07.09:44 AI-182 Right air BUNTY to Merley and the upper Red 37 AI-182.
07.09:49 Shannon AI-182 would you squawk 2005 I repeat 2005.
07.09:58 AI-182 Right sir Squawking 2005 182.
07.11:24   Hann bhai bulao.
07.11:30   Kaun sa form hai.
07.11:38   That is all right.
    ---
    --- (feeble words)
07.13:42 FE Bhinder [name of co-pilot]
07.13:43 COP Haan Ji.
07.13:44 FE London operation ko bolna.
07.13:45 COP Hun.
07.13:47 FE Flight Purser. They want about 30 Custom seals.
07.13:50 COP Customs.
07.13:52 FE Custom seals. Wo Bar seal karane ke liye.
07.13:54   For their arrival - Customs Bar ---
07.14:01   (Sound)
    end of recording

Back to top