McAleese and Canadian PM at Air India commemorations

President Mary McAleese and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin are in west Cork this morning to commemorate the anniversary of the 1985 Air India plane disaster.

Three hundred and seven passengers and 22 crew members died when Air India Flight 182 from Canada to Bombay exploded and crashed off the south coast 20 years ago today.

The blast was caused by a bomb planted by Sikh extremists.

Hundreds of people have gathered in the Co Cork village of Ahakista today to mark the anniversary.

A minute's silence is due to take place at 8.13am, the moment the plane vanished from radar screens.