High Commission of India
Ottawa

PRESS RELEASE

Kanishka Air Tragedy 36^th Anniversary Commemorated

23^rd June 2021, marks the 36^th anniversary of the horrific terrorist bombing of Air India flight AI 182.

As part of the commemoration of the tragic incident, High Commissioner of India to Canada Mr. Ajay Bisaria placed a wreath at the memorial to the victims of the ‘Kanishka’ bombing at Commissioner’s Park in Ottawa.  Mr. Susheel Gupta, representative of the victims’ family association was present at the event. 

The Consul General of India in Vancouver, Mr. Manish, visited the memorial at Stanley Park in Vancouver; Consul General of India in Toronto, Ms. Apoorva Srivastava, visited the memorials at Queen’s Park and Humber Park in Toronto; the Representative of India to ICAO, Ms. Shefali Juneja, visited the memorial in Montreal to pay homage to the victims.  Representatives of victims of families were present at all the memorials.  The gatherings were kept small to respect social distancing norms in view of COVID-19 pandemic related health measures. 

Joining the families and friends of the victims in paying homage to all those who fell to this most barbaric act of terrorism, the High Commissioner of India to Canada in his message said that “the terrorist bombing of the AI flight 182 remains the worst terrorist attack on Canada.  The majority of the victims were Canadians, and the bombing was the result of a conspiracy conceived, planned and executed in Canada.  This was principally a Canadian tragedy, a British tragedy, an American tragedy, a global tragedy.  It is fitting that Canada commemorates this day as National Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism.  No religion, faith or cause can justify such violence.  Our most enduring memorial to the victims will be rededicating ourselves to fighting and eliminating terrorism and militancy with strong determination and joint action.”

The High Commissioner of India to Canada also thanked Canada’s Prime Minister H.E. Justin Trudeau for his message on the solemn anniversary, which is also recognized in Canada as the National Day of Remembrance for victims of terrorism.

The terrorist bombing of Air India flight AI 182 off the Irish Coast on 23 June 1985 which resulted in the killing of all 329 crew and passengers (of which 82 were children below the age of 13) including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, 22 American citizens and 24 Indian citizens, remains the worst terrorist attack against Canada.   It also remains the biggest aviation disaster after 9/11.

Ottawa, 23 June 2021