Plane Crash

The Plane Crash is a recurring plot element within the Tomb Raider Universe.

Original Plane Crash

In the background story of the classic Tomb Raider Lara survived a plane cash in the Himalayas at the age of 21, an event that changed her life forever.

On her way home from a skiing trip her chartered plane had crashed deep in the heart of the Himalayas. The only survivor, Lara learned how to depend on her wits to stay alive in hostile conditions a world away from her sheltered upbringing. 2 weeks later, when she walked into the village of Tokakeriby her experience had had a profound effect on her.

Tomb Raider booklet

In the Reboot storyline this part of Lara's background story was changed to surviving being shipwrecked on Yamatai, which we can experience first hand in Tomb Raider (2013).

Comic Version

The Plane Crash is also detailed in the Top Cow Tomb Raider Comics, as a flashback in Tomb Raider: The Series Vol. 1, Issue 2 from December 1999 and later in Tomb Raider: The Series Vol. 1, Issue 1/2 from October 2001. In this version Lara's parents and Roger, her fiancée at the time, were with Lara on the plane and were killed in the crash.

Tomb Raider Legend Plane Crash

In Tomb Raider Legend the original storyline was disturbed for the first time, when the age at which Lara survived the plane crash was changed to nine.

At the age of nine, Lara survived a plane crash in the Himalayan mountains that resulted in the death of her mother. After miraculously surviving a ten-day solo trek from the crash site to Kathmandu, she spent the rest of her childhood under the close tutelage of her archeologist father - the late Earl of Abbingdon, Richard Croft.

Legend Booklet, Page 2

Amelia Croft's Plane Crash

In the Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration DLC Blood Ties it became knowledge that - even though Lara's background story had been changed - apparently the plane crash referenced in Tomb Raider Legend happened, except that Amelia Croft, Lara's mother was alone in the plane, en route to Nepal to meet her husband, when she crashed in the Himalayas. Amelia survived the crash but died alone in the wilderness.

Amelia's plane... crashed in the mountains. She died alone in the snow, waiting for me to find her. Oh god, not her, not now! I cannot accept it.

Excerpt from the Document Broken

Kristina Boaz' Plane Crash

The Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness character Kristina Boaz also survived a plane crash in 1987. Not much is known about the incident, except that she was wearing scars from the accident when Lara met her.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Plane Crash

Concept Art of Plane Entering the Jungle

The 2018 Shadow of the Tomb Raider actually starts with a plane crash: On their way to Paititi Lara Croft and her confidant Jonah Maiava crash in the Peruvian jungle. At this point it is unclear why the plane is going down, but it seems to be flying through a heavy storm so it is reasonable to assume this is the reason. Lara is trying to get the plane under control, but ultimately fails. Having no Parachutes on board, bailing out is not an option. Slowly the plane comes apart and ultimately Lara and Jonah are separated when the cockpit gets torn off.