Family members of victims, along with members of the wider Canadian community, commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 Tragedy. Mourners gathered across the country, most notably at official memorials in Vancouver and Toronto.
In 1985, Air India Flight 182 departed Toronto Pearson International Airport for Montreal Mirabel International Airport, before then beginning the trek to London Heathrow Airport. While en route and approaching Ireland, explosives located in a suitcase in the plane’s cargo hold detonated at 7:14 GMT on June 23rd, 1985. All 329 occupants were killed.
RCMP identified Sikh separatist group Babbar Khalsa International as the perpetrators, although only one conspirator would be convicted. Many have criticized the RCMP and CSIS in the handling of the investigation. In turn, the Canadian Government has been accused of trying to sideline the event’s legacy, with a 2025 study by the Angus Reid Institute revealing that a majority of Canadians said that the attack was not being treated as a “national tragedy.”
Both the Irish and Canadian Governments released statements of condolence.