Nagpur, India: After the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, people across India are once again talking about flight safety. While flying has become safer over the years, Nagpur has its own history of serious air accidents that many have forgotten.

Back in the 1950s and 60s, Nagpur saw several plane crashes, some of which were deadly. One of the worst happened on February 2, 1955. A Douglas C-47 plane took off from Nagpur Airport but crashed just two minutes later. It was flying in the dark and made a steep turn, which caused it to lose control and explode mid-air. All 10 people on board died.

Just a couple of years earlier, on December 12, 1953, another C-47 crashed shortly after take-off. It was flying to Chennai but turned sharply after a false engine fire warning and crashed. Thirteen people were killed, and only the pilot survived. Investigations found serious problems in how the aircraft was handled during emergencies.

On February 19, 1952, a DC-3 plane crashed while landing at Nagpur. The crew used the wrong altitude setting and hit trees near the runway. Three people died in that accident.

In later years, accidents continued. On March 22, 1961, a cargo plane flying from Mumbai to Bangkok had an engine failure and crash-landed near Nagpur. Fortunately, the three crew members survived. In 1966, another DC-3 plane skidded off the runway during a storm. That crash caused no deaths, but the plane was badly damaged.

These past accidents show how dangerous flying used to be, especially with older technology and limited safety systems. While today’s planes and procedures are much better, experts say it’s important not to forget the past.

As the investigation into the Ahmedabad crash continues, Nagpur’s history of air accidents reminds us that safety should always come first — even in the skies.