'Heinous Act Of Terror': Canada Admits For First Time Khalistani Extremists Behind Air India Kanishka Bombing

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 23:50 IST

Describing Kanishka bombing as "heinous act of terror", Canada's intelligence agency said that the explosive device planted by Khalistani terrorists based in Canada.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has, for the first time in more than four decades, officially acknowledged that Canada-based Khalistani extremists were responsible for the bombing of Air India Flight 182, which killed all 329 people on board in 1985.

Describing the Kanishka bombing as “a heinous act of terror", Canada’s intelligence agency said the aircraft was brought down by an explosive device planted by Khalistani terrorists based in Canada.

“On this National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, CSIS remembers the 329 people on Air India Flight 182 who lost their lives due to a heinous act of terror. On June 23, 1985, a bomb planted by Canada-based Khalistani extremists destroyed the aircraft, killing everyone on board—most of them Canadians. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canada’s history and a defining moment for our national security community," the agency said in a Facebook post.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also paid tribute to the victims on Tuesday, calling the Kanishka bombing “the deadliest attack in our country’s history" and reaffirming Canada’s commitment to combating violent extremism.

“Forty-one years ago today, the bombing of Air India Flight 182 claimed 329 innocent lives, including 268 Canadians. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canada’s history," Carney said in a statement.

Also Read: Remembering Air India ‘Kanishka’ Bombing 39 Years Later: What Happened On June 23, 1985?

1985 Air India Bombing

Air India Flight 182, popularly known as the Kanishka, was en route from Montreal to New Delhi via London on June 23, 1985, when a bomb hidden inside a checked suitcase exploded mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland. The blast occurred about 45 minutes before the aircraft was scheduled to land at London’s Heathrow Airport, killing all 329 passengers and crew members on board.

The bombing remains the deadliest act of terrorism in Canadian history. Among the victims were 268 Canadian citizens, most of them of Indian origin, and 24 Indian nationals. Search and rescue teams recovered only 131 bodies from the ocean.

Canadian investigators concluded that the attack was orchestrated by Khalistani extremists as retaliation for Operation Blue Star, the Indian Army’s 1984 operation to flush out armed militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Investigators later found that the explosives had been placed in a suitcase checked in by a passenger who never boarded the flight.

The tragedy has remained a major point of contention in India-Canada ties, particularly over concerns surrounding extremist activities operating from Canadian soil.

Relations between the two countries, however, have shown signs of improvement since Mark Carney assumed office as Canada’s prime minister earlier this year. Both governments have taken steps to restore diplomatic engagement after ties deteriorated sharply under former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Bilateral relations had plunged to their lowest point after Trudeau alleged in 2023 that there were “credible allegations" linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India strongly rejected the claims as “absurd" and “politically motivated."

About the Author

Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st...Read More

News world 'Heinous Act Of Terror': Canada Admits For First Time Khalistani Extremists Behind Air India Kanishka Bombing

Read More