The deadly crash of an Air India flight carrying more than 240 people on Thursday arrives after years of efforts to turn around the country’s flag carrier — which had been plagued by tragedy and financial losses under prior state ownership.

"Air India has been slated for scruffy, poorly maintained cabin interiors and sketchy service at times - however in the world of aviation this does not necessarily translate as poorly maintained functionality of aircraft and their airworthiness, all of which will undergo significant technical checks before deployed into the air.

While Air India has played a pivotal role in connecting India to the world, its history is checkered with multiple high-casualty incidents.

A sense of déjà vu haunts the nation yet again as Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on its way to London. Carrying 242 passengers and crew,