Relatives of 1985 Air India crash victims lay wreaths at ceremony in West Cork

Family members of those who died in the Air India disaster in West Cork have laid wreaths during a commemoration ceremony to mark 40 years since the explosion.

In June 1985, Air India Flight 182 was brought down off the coast of Cork in what was the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history.

Some 329 people were killed, including 29 families, the majority of whom were Canadians of Indian descent.

The plane crashed as a result of a terrorist attack, and was the worst aviation act of terrorism until the September 11 attacks.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin was among those to attend the annual commemoration at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork.

Dozens of relatives travelled to West Cork for the ceremony, including Sanjay Lazar whose father, mother and sister all died in the crash, and Sunil Gaur who lost her father, Om Prahash Sharm, in the air disaster.

Following the ceremony, family members released yellow flowers into the sea close to the memorial site.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mr Martin said: “While the scale of this horrific act is of global significance, we should never forget that it is an intensely personal tragedy.

“The loss and grief felt by you, the families and loved ones of the people who died that June morning in 1985 is deeply personal.

“One only needs to come here on any year and listen to you speak, witness you placing flowers into the sea or laying wreaths to understand how powerful that grief endures.

“I am sure that this year, those memories will have added poignancy as those events were echoed tragically with the horrific accident in Ahmedabad just over 10 days ago.

“I want to take this opportunity to again offer my sincere condolences and those of the government and the people of Ireland to the people of India, United Kingdom, Portugal and Canada and the families of all who perished in that crash.

“Most of us can only imagine the heartbreak suffered by the loved ones of those who died in that flight, but you here today, you know that suffering, and I know all of those people are in all our thoughts and prayers.

“It is through sadness and grief that we are gathered here. But what I do find heartening is what has emerged from this tragedy, what all of you have created from this, dignity, love and remembrance, and also a deepened connection between Canada, India and Ireland.”

A delegation from the Indian government, including Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Singh Puri, also attended the ceremony.

Addressing those at the event, the minister said they were gathered with “deep sorrow and heavy hearts” to remember the 329 innocent lives lost.

“Let this commemoration send a powerful united message that those who chose the path of terror will never prevail over the enduring bonds of humanity, democracy, and friendship,” he said.

“Our nations have mourned together for 40 years, and we will continue to honour the memory of those who lost by striving for peace, security, and justice.”

He also paid tribute to the community of Ahakista.

“The spirit with with the people of (Ahakista) and nearby areas rose to the occasion in solidary with the families of victims is a story I think has remained unknown but needs to be told and retold.

“Apart from the emergency assistance in (identifying) the bodies and locating and collecting of the debris, they opened their homes to complete strangers and generously put them up in their hour of need.”

At the 20th commemoration of the disaster, Paul Martin became the first Canadian prime minister to visit the memorial.

As Mr Martin offered his condolences to the families of those killed after the Air India plane crashed earlier this month, he drew comparisons between the two tragedies.

The 2025 Air India flight struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.

The sole survivor was Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who said it was “a miracle” he survived.