’26 crashes, nearly 3,500 deaths’: A history of Boeing aircraft major disasters

An Air India flight, AI-171, operating a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to London, crashed in a densely populated area near Meghaninagar around 1:38 pm on June 12, 2025.

The aircraft lost altitude shortly after takeoff and issued a mayday call before plummeting into the BJ Medical College hostel compound.

So far, at least 170 people have been confirmed dead, including passengers and residents on the ground, while many more are injured.

Since 2000, there have been at least 26 fatal incidents involving Boeing aircraft, resulting in approximately 3,471 deaths globally.

Boeing, founded in 1916 in Seattle, USA, is one of the world’s largest aerospace companies and a dominant force in the commercial aircraft industry.

While it has pioneered many aviation innovations, the company has faced growing scrutiny in recent years due to a troubling safety record, particularly following the 737 MAX disasters and recent technical failures.

On April 19, 2000, Air Philippines Flight 541, a Boeing 737-2H4, crashed into a hillside near Davao City, Philippines, during its approach, killing all 131 people on board.

On July 17, 2000, Alliance Air Flight 7412, a Boeing 737-2A8, crashed into a residential area in Patna, India, after aborting a landing. Fifty-one passengers and crew were killed, along with five people on the ground.

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757-222, was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of all 64 people onboard and 125 on the ground.

On May 25, 2002, China Airlines Flight 611, a Boeing 747-209B, broke apart midair over the Taiwan Strait en route to Hong Kong, killing all 225 people aboard.

On August 14, 2005, Helios Airways Flight 522, a Boeing 737-31S, crashed into a hillside near Athens, Greece, after cabin pressurization failure incapacitated the crew. All 121 people aboard died.

On September 29, 2006, GOL Flight 1907, a Boeing 737-800, collided midair with a private jet over the Brazilian Amazon and crashed, killing all 154 people aboard.

On January 1, 2007, Adam Air Flight 574, a Boeing 737-400, disappeared over the Makassar Strait in Indonesia and was later found to have crashed, with all 102 people on board confirmed dead.

On May 5, 2007, Kenya Airways Flight 507, a Boeing 737-800, crashed shortly after takeoff from Douala, Cameroon, killing all 114 passengers and crew.

On August 24, 2008, Itek Air Flight 556, a Boeing 737-219, crashed near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during takeoff, killing 65 of the 90 people aboard.

On September 14, 2008, Aeroflot-Nord Flight 821, a Boeing 737-505, crashed while approaching Perm Airport in Russia, killing all 88 passengers and crew.

On January 25, 2010, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409, a Boeing 737-800, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after takeoff from Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of all 90 people aboard.

On May 22, 2010, Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737-800, overshot the runway at Mangalore Airport in India and crashed into a valley, killing 158 of the 166 people onboard.

On April 20, 2012, Bhoja Air Flight 213, a Boeing 737-236, crashed while approaching Islamabad, Pakistan, in bad weather, killing all 127 passengers and crew.

On November 17, 2013, Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363, a Boeing 737-500, crashed during a go-around at Kazan International Airport in Russia, killing all 50 people aboard.

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200ER, disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people onboard. It is presumed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean, with all lives lost.

On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a Boeing 777-200ER, was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard.

On March 19, 2016, flydubai Flight FZ981, a Boeing 737-800, crashed while attempting to land in poor weather in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. All 62 passengers and crew died.

On May 18, 2018, Cubana de Aviación Flight 972, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Global Air, crashed shortly after takeoff from Havana, Cuba, killing 112 of the 113 people aboard.

On October 29, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia just minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 passengers and crew.

On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed near Addis Ababa shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all 157 people aboard.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, a Boeing 737-800, was mistakenly shot down by Iranian military forces near Tehran, killing all 176 passengers and crew.

On August 7, 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, a Boeing 737-800 repatriation flight, crashed while landing in Kozhikode, India, during heavy rains, resulting in 21 deaths among the 190 people onboard.

On January 9, 2021, Sriwijaya Air Flight 182, a Boeing 737-500, crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 62 people on board.

On December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, crash-landed in Muan, South Korea, during poor weather conditions, resulting in 179 fatalities among 181 passengers and crew.

On March 21, 2025, China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735, a Boeing 737-800, crashed into mountainous terrain in Guangxi, China, during cruise flight, killing all 132 people aboard.