Silchar – Agartala – Calcutta

While descending to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over the border with Bangladesh when control was lost. The airplane crashed in an open field located in Khulna, some 55 km southeast of Dum Dum Airport and was destroyed upon impact. All 44 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Silchar – Agartala – Calcutta

Registration

VT-DOJ

MSN

10214

Year of Manufacture

1962

Operator

Indian Airlines

Date

April 21, 1969 at 08:30 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Khulna West Bengal

Region

Asia • India

Coordinates

22.5565°, 88.3559°

Crash Cause

Weather

Narrative Report

On April 21, 1969 at 08:30 PM, Silchar – Agartala – Calcutta experienced a crash involving Fokker F27 Friendship, operated by Indian Airlines, with the event recorded near Khulna West Bengal.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

44 people were known to be on board, 44 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 40, passenger fatalities: 40, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. While descending to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over the border with Bangladesh when control was lost. The airplane crashed in an open field located in Khulna, some 55 km southeast of Dum Dum Airport and was destroyed upon impact. All 44 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VT-DOJ, MSN 10214, year of manufacture 1962.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 22.5565°, 88.3559°.

Fatalities

Total

44

Crew

4

Passengers

40

Other

0

Crash Summary

While descending to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over the border with Bangladesh when control was lost. The airplane crashed in an open field located in Khulna, some 55 km southeast of Dum Dum Airport and was destroyed upon impact. All 44 occupants were killed.

Cause: Weather

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

40

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 44

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Silchar – Agartala – Calcutta

Operator

Indian Airlines

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Asia • India

Aircraft Details

Registration

VT-DOJ

MSN

10214

Year of Manufacture

1962

Similar Plane Crashes

August 25, 1922 at 12:00 AM

Wilfred Theodore Blake

Fairey III

The British Major Wilfred Theodore Blake was trying to complete one of the first World Tour. Last May, he crashed with his DH.9 in Marseille but continued with this Fairey IIIC. The airplane departed the east coast of India bound to Chittagong. While cruising off the West Bengal State, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea off Sagar. All three occupants were rescued and the aircraft was lost. Crew: Norman MacMillan, pilot, Wilfred Theodore Blake, copilot and navigator, Colonel L. E. Broome, photographer.

May 7, 1924 at 12:00 AM

Brito Pais

Breguet 14

Both Portuguese aviators Brito Pais and Sarmento Beires departed Portugal (Vila Nova de Milfontes) on a flight to Macau with intermediate stops in Tunis, Cairo, Bushehr and Karachi. While flying over Rajasthan, the crew encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots escaped uninjured and continued their trip with a De Havilland DH.9.

July 18, 1927 at 12:00 AM

Thomas Neville Stack

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

The aircraft was owned by Thomas Neville Stack but piloted this day by W. H. Vetch for a demo flight at Shillong. After performing several manoeuvres, the pilot started an approach but was too low when the aircraft hit power cables and crashed into the public. The pilot and four other people were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

August 4, 1927 at 12:00 AM

Dennis M. M. Rooke

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Dennis M. M. Rooke, pilot and owner of this aircraft named 'Marjorie', was performing a flight from England to Australia. Shortly after takeoff from Aurangabad, en route to Darwin, the aircraft hit a palm tree and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

June 10, 1929 at 12:00 AM

Van Lear Black

Fokker F7

The aircraft named 'Maryland Free State' departed London on a trip to Tokyo, carrying three passengers and two crew members. Upon landing at Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All five occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Owner of the aircraft, the American businessman Van Lear Black (also owner of the US newspaper Baltimore Sun) returned to UK by train and ordered a new aircraft to complete his trip from London to Tokyo.

April 17, 1931 at 02:00 PM

George Valentin Bibescu

Ford 5

En route, the three engine airplane collided with a vulture, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was owned by Prince George Valentin Bibescu, President of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).