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Air India Flight 182 bombing

The Air India Flight 182 bombing was a terrorist attack on 23 June 1985 in which a bomb destroyed an Air India Boeing 747 over the Atlantic Ocean off Ireland.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Air India Flight 182 bombing was a terrorist attack on 23 June 1985 in which a bomb destroyed an Air India Boeing 747 over the Atlantic Ocean off Ireland. All 329 people on board were killed, including 268 Canadian citizens, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history.

Attack

Air India Flight 182 was destroyed in mid-air by an explosive device hidden in luggage. The aircraft was travelling from Canada to India via London when it exploded over the Atlantic near Ireland.

Victims and loss of life

Everyone aboard the flight died, including passengers and crew. Canadian victims formed the largest national group among the dead, and many families in Canada were directly affected.

Investigation and prosecutions

Investigations focused on Sikh extremist suspects and on the logistics of the bomb plot. The case became known for long-running investigative and prosecutorial difficulties in Canada.

Legacy

The bombing remains a major event in Canadian security and terrorism history. It has been the subject of public inquiries, memorialization, and ongoing historical study.

Key facts

  • The bombing occurred on 23 June 1985, when a suitcase bomb detonated aboard Air India Flight 182.
  • All 329 people on board were killed, with wreckage falling into the Atlantic Ocean off Ireland.
  • Most victims were Canadian citizens, many of them of Indian origin.
  • The attack is widely described as the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history.
  • The bombing was linked in reporting and investigations to Sikh extremist militants.
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Canadian context

The bombing has a major Canadian connection because 268 of the 329 victims were Canadian citizens, and it is commonly described as the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history.

Frequently asked questions

What was Air India Flight 182?
It was an Air India passenger flight destroyed by a bomb on 23 June 1985 while flying from Canada to India via London.
How many people died in the bombing?
All 329 people on board were killed.
Why is it important in Canadian history?
It is widely regarded as the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history and killed 268 Canadian citizens.
Where did the bombing happen?
The aircraft exploded over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland.
Who was blamed for the attack?
Reporting and investigations linked the bombing to Sikh extremist militants.

References

  1. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66909820
    Supports: Date, location, total deaths, suitcase bomb description, and Canadian victim count.
  2. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/air-india-flight-182-bombing
    Supports: Canadian context, casualties, and significance in Canadian history.
  3. Government of Ireland — https://www.ireland.ie/en/canada/ottawa/news-and-events/news-archive/40-years-since-air-india-disaster/
    Supports: 40th anniversary, date, death toll, and wreckage location offshore of Ireland.
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/event/Air-India-Flight-182-disaster
    Supports: Date, location, death toll, and general historical framing.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_India_Flight_182
    Supports: Victim nationality breakdown and aircraft type.