On June 23, 1985, a major disaster struck commercial aviation when Air India Flight 182 was destroyed mid-air. The aircraft was traveling on an international route from Canada to India, with scheduled stopovers in Montreal and London. While flying high over the Atlantic Ocean near the Irish coast, a sudden and catastrophic explosion tore the plane apart, sending it into the sea.

The horrific incident resulted in the loss of all 329 passengers and crew members on board, wiping out entire families and leaving communities worldwide in deep mourning. At the time, it was recorded as the deadliest act of aviation terrorism in history, and it still stands as the worst mass murder ever committed on Canadian citizens.

An extensive international investigation eventually determined that the disaster was caused by a bomb hidden inside a checked suitcase. The explosive device had been planted by an extremist organization. The plot succeeded because the perpetrators managed to log their luggage onto the flight without ever boarding the aircraft themselves, exposing a major flaw in security at the time.

In the wake of this disaster, global aviation authorities completely transformed airport security protocols to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. The event led to the strict implementation of passenger-baggage reconciliation rules worldwide. Today, international laws strictly forbid any commercial aircraft from carrying a piece of luggage unless the traveler who checked it is confirmed to be on board.