40th Anniversary of Kanishka Flight Bombing: Hundreds in Canada Pay Tribute to Victims

40th Anniversary of Kanishka Flight Bombing:The Montreal-New Delhi Air India ‘Kanishka’ Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was supposed to land at London’s Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.

Mourners joined family members of the 329 victims of the terrorist bombing of the Kanishka on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. They gathered at the memorials in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver on what is marked as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism in Canada.

In a message released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney said, “Canada will continue to work with our allies and partners, at home and around the world, to better detect, prevent, and respond to the threat of terrorism and violent extremism.”

Describing the Khalistani terror attack as “the deadliest attack in our country’s history – one we must never forget”, he added, “Canada’s new government unequivocally stands against terrorism, and we will deliver on our mandate of change to keep communities safe.”

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On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182—named Kanishka after the Kushan dynasty emperor—was en route from Montreal to Mumbai via London and Delhi. Shortly after the flight resumed its journey from Montreal and contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control in Ireland, a bomb exploded in the cargo hold, bringing down the Boeing 747 over the Atlantic Ocean off the Irish coast.

All 329 people on board, including 22 crew members, were killed in what remains one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism in history. Investigations later revealed that the bomb had been loaded onto the flight in Vancouver as part of a transnational terror plot.

The attack was attributed to the Khalistani extremist group Babbar Khalsa. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a British-Canadian national, pleaded guilty in 2003 to his role in building the explosive device. Talwinder Singh Parmar, a founding member of Babbar Khalsa, is believed to have masterminded the attack.

“The world needs to come together – not only in isolated episodes of solemn mourning such as these, but in collective, proactive efforts to combat terrorism,” said Puri, calling the international community to unite to fight terrorism.

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Recalling the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks, Puri emphasised that terror-based attacks are 'not an episode of the past', but continue to fester as present-day threats. He stated that global terrorism-related deaths have increased by 22 per cent as of 2024.

Among those present at the Ottawa memorial were MPs from the ruling party, as well as the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Daniel Rogers, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme.

A day earlier, on Sunday, three Conservative Party MPs attended a vigil for the victims at the Toronto memorial. The opposition party’s deputy leader, Melissa Lanstman, said, “Until there is justice, until there is no more denial of justice from Canadians, until there is an eradication of terror, not only beyond our borders but right here in Canada, justice could never be served.”

She said there was “no question” that there was an “uptick” in Canada of “unchecked terror”, which targeted Hindu temples and synagogues. She blasted “elements of Khalistani terror who terrorise communities and people in their neighbourhoods in this country”.

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