Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Indian papers resurfacing in French Alps could be from 1966 plane crash

Indian newspapers from 1966 have surfaced in the French Alps, under the ice of a melting Mont Blanc glacier.

They are believed to be from an Air India plane that crashed on 24 January, 1966, killing all 117 people on board.

The front pages report the landmark election of Indira Gandhi, India's first - and to this day, only - female prime minister.

About a dozen papers, including the National Herald and the Economic Times, were found by a local restaurant owner.

Timothee Mottin, whose restaurant is near the Chamonix ski resort area, told AFP news agency: "They are drying now but they are in very good condition. You can read them."

Once they've dried out, he said, they will be displayed in his restaurant, as part of a collection of items from the crash that he's found over time.

The most valuable relic from the crash was found in 2013 - a box of precious stones including emeralds, sapphires and rubies that was estimated to be worth between €130,000 (£117,000; $147,000) and €246,000 (£221,000; $279,000).

Rising global temperatures are causing mountain glaciers to melt and polar ice sheets to retreat. Last September, officials warned part of the Planpincieux glacier on Mont Blanc's Grandes Jorasses peak was vulnerable to collapse.

Air India flight 101 was flying from Mumbai - then known as Bombay - to London when it crashed near the summit of Mont Blanc on 24 January 1966.

The flight had made two scheduled stops in Delhi and Beirut, Lebanon, and was on its way to another stop in Geneva, Switzerland.

However, during the descent into Geneva the aircraft collided with the mountain, killing all 106 passengers and 11 crew members on board.


Who was Indira Gandhi?


Indira Gandhi was the daughter of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and after him was the country's second-longest-serving prime minister.

She held the post twice. Her first term lasted 11 years but after a turbulent two-year state of emergency from 1975 to 1977 she called an election to vindicate her position - a move that resulted in her losing her seat.

Re-elected in January 1980, she remained in power until she was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Her killing came after Operation Blue Star, an Indian military operation against Sikh militants in Punjab.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×