Country
Operator Image
Crash of a Boeing 747-237B in New Delhi
Date & Time:
May 7, 1990 at 0917 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EBO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London - New Delhi - Bombay
MSN:
20558
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
AI132
Crew on board:
20
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
195
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport following an uneventful flight from London-Heathrow Airport, the crew started the braking procedure and activated the thrust reversers when the pylon of the engine n°1 failed. The engine partially detached, causing a fuel line to rupture and the fuel to ignite. The aircraft was stopped after a course of almost 3 km and all 215 occupants were evacuated safely. The fire was extinguished but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused due to the migration of the improperly installed diagonal-brace aft fuse-pin of the No.1 engine from its fitting which substantially reduced the load carrying capability of the engine fittings resulting in failure of the upper-link forward fuse pin due to excessive loads on account of probably improper landing leading to a partial separation of engine and fire.
Crash of a Boeing 747-237B in the Atlantic Ocean: 329 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 23, 1985 at 0715 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EFO
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vancouver – Toronto – Montreal – London – New Delhi – Bombay
MSN:
21473
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
AI182
Crew on board:
22
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
307
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
329
Captain / Total hours on type:
6488.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2469
Aircraft flight hours:
23634
Aircraft flight cycles:
7525
Circumstances:
On the morning of 23rd June, 1985 Air India's Boeing 747 aircraft VT-EFO (Kanishka) was on a scheduled passenger flight (AI182) from Montreal and was proceeding to London enroute to Delhi and Bombay. It was being monitored at Shannon on the radar scope. At about 0714 GMT it suddenly disappeared from the radar scope and the aircraft, which had been flying at an altitude of approximately 31,000 feet, plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the southwest coast of Ireland at position latitude 51° 3.6' N and longitude 12° 49' W. This was one of the worst air disasters wherein all the 307 passengers plus 22 crew members perished. The fact that emergency had arisen was first by Shannon Upper Area Control (UAC) after the aircraft had disappeared from the radar scope. The control gave a number of calls to the aircraft but there was obviously no response. Thereafter various messages were transmitted and that is how the rest of the world came to know of the accident. Shannon Control at 0730 hours advised the Marine Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) about the situation which appeared to have arisen. MRCC, in turn, explained the situation to Valencia Coast Station and requested for a Pan Broadcast. Thereafter ships started converging on the scene of the accident and they commenced search and rescue operations.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The aircraft was subjected to a sudden event at an altitude of 31,000 feet resulting in its crash into the sea and the death of all on board,
- The forward and aft cargo compartments ruptured before water impact,
- The section aft of the wings of the aircraft separated from the forward portion before water impact.
- There is no evidence to indicate that structural failure of the aircraft was the lead event in this occurrence.
- There is considerable circumstantial and other evidence to indicate that the initial event was an explosion occurring in the forward cargo compartment. This evidence is not conclusive. However, the evidence does not support any other conclusion.
- The aircraft was subjected to a sudden event at an altitude of 31,000 feet resulting in its crash into the sea and the death of all on board,
- The forward and aft cargo compartments ruptured before water impact,
- The section aft of the wings of the aircraft separated from the forward portion before water impact.
- There is no evidence to indicate that structural failure of the aircraft was the lead event in this occurrence.
- There is considerable circumstantial and other evidence to indicate that the initial event was an explosion occurring in the forward cargo compartment. This evidence is not conclusive. However, the evidence does not support any other conclusion.
Final Report:
Crash of a Boeing 707-437 in Mumbai: 17 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 22, 1982 at 0434 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DJJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Bombay
MSN:
17723
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
AI403
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
101
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur, the crew started the descent to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport by night. The visibility was poor due to the combination of fog and night. On final, the captain reduced engine power at minimum, causing the aircraft to adopt an excessive rate of descent. Twelve seconds later, the aircraft landed hard on runway 27. Main wheel wells and tires were damaged upon impact and several alarms sounded in the cockpit. The captain increased engine power and decided to initiate a go-around. The airplane continued for few hundred meters but rolled on the right shoulder of the runway before takeoff. After liftoff, the stick shaker activated as the aircraft was in stall conditions. It lost height then crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. Two crew members and 15 passengers were killed, 45 other occupants were injured and 49 others escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who led the aircraft adopt an excessive rate of descent during the last segment.
