Canada Marks 40 Years Since Air India Bombing Tragedy
On June 23, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute to the victims of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, which remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history. In a solemn post shared at 1:22 AM, Carney remembered the 268 Canadian citizens who lost their lives in the 1985 bombing and reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to countering violent extremism.
The attack, which occurred on June 23, 1985, claimed a total of 329 lives when Air India’s Boeing 747 exploded mid-air off the coast of Ireland. Investigations later revealed that the bombing was carried out by Khalistani extremists operating from Canada, targeting the Indian airliner in retaliation for the Indian government’s Operation Blue Star. Among the victims were 82 children and entire families bound for India, many of whom were Canadian citizens.
“Today, we mourn the 268 Canadian victims of the Air India bombing and all who have been killed in acts of terrorism — a sombre reminder of our commitment to fight violent extremism and keep Canadians safe,” Carney wrote, sharing an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office marking the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism.
The Air India bombing continues to cast a long shadow over Canada’s intelligence, security, and counterterrorism framework. It exposed significant lapses in surveillance and coordination between Canadian agencies in the 1980s and led to one of the country’s longest-running trials. Despite arrests and investigations, only one person was ever convicted in the case, raising enduring concerns about justice and accountability.
This year’s commemoration comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and renewed scrutiny of foreign extremist networks operating within Canadian borders. It also follows calls by Indian officials for stronger Canadian action against extremist elements that glorify terrorism under the guise of political activism.
Families of victims, many of whom have fought for decades to keep the memory of their loved ones alive, have welcomed the Prime Minister’s message but continue to urge both remembrance and accountability. Several memorial events were held across Canadian cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa, where wreaths were laid and names read aloud.
The bombing of Air India Flight 182 is a searing chapter in both Indian and Canadian history. As Canada reflects 40 years on, leaders and citizens alike confront the tragedy with renewed resolve to prevent such horrors from recurring and to ensure that terrorism finds no safe haven on Canadian soil.
