Of the 329 people killed in the bombing, the vast majority were Canadians. The attack launched an international investigation that led to the conviction of only one person, along with accusations of “failures” on the part of the RCMP, intelligence agencies, airport security and the federal government.
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Here’s a timeline of how the bombing unfolded, the resulting investigations and trials, and the fate of the men involved in the plot, including Malik. 6:19 am GMT: A suitcase bomb explodes at Narita International Airport in Tokyo as it is being carried on Air India Flight 301, which was bound for Bangkok, Thailand. The explosion kills two baggage handlers and injures four people. 7:14 am GMT: A suitcase bomb explodes in the forward cargo hold of Air India Flight 182 as it flies 31,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland. The plane had left Toronto and stopped in Montreal and was en route to London, with a final destination of Bombay, India (then Bombay). The wreckage of the plane crashes into the ocean, and all 329 people on board — including 268 Canadians, mostly of Indian Hindu heritage — are killed. Only 131 bodies were eventually pulled from the water by Irish rescue crews. Story continues below ad An investigation into both bombings begins immediately, involving authorities in Canada, Ireland, Japan and India, with the focus quickly narrowing to India’s Sikh separatist movement. The bomb parts recovered from both crime scenes were eventually traced to Vancouver, where it was determined that the suitcase bombs had originally been sent. It was later revealed that the bombings were to be carried out simultaneously while their respective planes were in the air, but the plotters did not realize that Japan does not observe daylight saving time. 4:01 Global BC at 60: The worst terrorist attack in Canadian history Global BC at 60: The worst terrorist attack in Canadian history – October 5, 2020
November 6, 1985 – Suspects’ homes raided
RCMP raided the homes of several Sikh men of Indian heritage in British Columbia suspected of being linked to both bombings, including Talwinder Singh Parmar, the leader of the Babbar Khalsa extremist group with ties to India’s Sikh separatist movement . At the time of the bombings, Parmar was based in Burnaby, B.C Story continues below ad The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which had been set up just a year before the bombings, had been monitoring Parmar for months through wiretapping and surveillance. Police find bomb-making materials at the home of Inderjit Singh Reyat, an electrician from Duncan, BC, who implicates Parmar. Both men are charged with possession of explosives and firearms, but Parmar’s charges are dismissed days later. 3:44 Story of Air India Flight 182 bombing Story of Air India Flight 182 bombing – February 7, 2020
April 29, 1986 – Reyat pleads guilty to possession charges
Reyat reaches a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to the explosives and firearms charges, paying a $2,000 fine. Story continues below ad About three months later, Reyat leaves Canada with his family and settles in Coventry, United Kingdom, near Birmingham. Parmar is believed to have fled Canada and settled in Pakistan around the same time. Meanwhile, the Mounties and Japanese investigators finally link the bomb parts from the Narita Airport explosion to Reyat, who is accused of buying the parts and shipping the suitcase bomb from Vancouver to Tokyo.
February 5, 1988 to December 13, 1989 – Reyat is arrested, extradited to Canada
British authorities arrest Reyat in February 1988 on a manslaughter charge in connection with the Narita Airport bombing. Prosecutors say they don’t have enough evidence to pursue murder charges. After a lengthy extradition process, Reyat was extradited to Canada in December 1989 to stand trial. 1:47 File: Inderjit Singh Reyat charged in London File: Inderjit Singh Reyat charged in London – Jan 26, 2016
May 10, 1991 – Reyat was convicted
After an eight-month trial, Reyat was found guilty of two counts of murder and four counts of explosives related to the Narita Airport bombing. He is sentenced to 10 years in prison. Story continues below ad
October 15, 1992 – Parmar killed
Parmar is killed during a shootout with Indian police in Phillaur, Punjab. He is believed to have continued with India’s Sikh separatist movement after fleeing to Pakistan. He was later believed to have masterminded both bombings. A recording purportedly of Parmar confessing his role to police in Punjab was released in 2007, but has not been verified.
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June 1, 1995 – RCMP offer $1 million reward for information
After 10 years without an arrest or public sign of progress in the Air India Flight 182 investigation, the RCMP is offering a $1 million reward for anyone with information. Trending Stories
Georgia woman left paralyzed in ICU after chiropractor visit, family says Ripudaman Singh Malik, acquitted of 1985 Air India bombing, shot dead in Surrey, B.C.
Story continues below ad Investigators insist they are close to solving the case, telling reporters the investigation is in an “acute phase.” But no major updates are given for another five years.
Oct. 27, 2000 – Malik, Bagri, arrested
Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri are charged with 329 counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Air India Flight 182 bombing, as well as murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with the Narita Airport bombing. Malik and Bagri are both associated with the extremist Babbar Khalsa movement which was led by Parmar. 0:49 Jagmeet Singh says he will continue to denounce acts of violence – including the Air India bombing Jagmeet Singh says he will continue to denounce acts of violence – including the Air India bombing – October 15, 2017
June 6, 2001 – Reyat charged again
Days before completing his 10-year sentence for the Narita airport bombing, Reyat is charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy over the Air India bombing. Story continues below ad As in the case of Narita Airport, Reyat is believed to have shipped the suitcase bomb from Vancouver to Toronto without flying there himself.
February 10, 2003 – Reyat pleads guilty
Reyat pleaded guilty to a single count of manslaughter in connection with the Air India bombing and was sentenced to five years in prison. The plea was believed to be part of a wider deal with prosecutors to cooperate in the case against Malik and Bagri.
April 28, 2003 – Malik, Bagri trial begins
The trial for Malik and Bagri has been going on in a specially configured, high-security courtroom at Vancouver’s law courts for more than a year and a half. Story continues below ad During the trial, the Crown argued that the bombing plot was hatched by Sikh separatists in Canada, including Malik and Bagri, in retaliation for the 1984 raid by Indian authorities on the Golden Temple, a Sikh holy site.
Read more: RCMP say Air India bombing investigation ‘active’
More than 100 people are called as witnesses, including Reyat, who eventually claims to not remember key details of the Air India bombing and says nothing implicating the accused. The trial finally ends in December 2004.
March 16, 2005 – Malik acquires Bagri
BC Supreme Court Justice Ian Josephson finds Malik and Bagri not guilty of any of the charges against them. In his verdict, the judge says the evidence from the RCMP and the Crown fell “significantly below” the threshold for conviction and found key witnesses not credible. Story continues below ad It also revealed that a trove of potential evidence, particularly over a hundred CSIS wiretapping tapes of the suspects and other witnesses, had been destroyed, rendering the remaining tapes inadmissible and hurting the Crown’s case.
January 6, 2006 – Reyat is charged with perjury
Reyat is accused of lying more than a dozen times during his testimony at the trial of Malik and Bagri. While awaiting trial on those charges, he was denied parole in 2007 and forced to serve his entire five-year sentence on the manslaughter charge. He was granted bail in July 2008, paving the way for his release.
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