Hyderabad - New Delhi

On December 17, 1978 at 10:42 AM, Hyderabad - New Delhi experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by Indian Airlines, with the event recorded near Hyderabad-Begumpet Telangana.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

132 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 128 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 3.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 126, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 3.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. After liftoff from runway 09 at Hyderabad-Begumpet Airport, during initial climb, the captain noticed severe vibrations as the leading edges were not properly deployed. After the undercarriage were raised, the captain decided to land back. The airplane belly landed, slid for about 940 meters, overran, struck a perimeter fence and came to rest in flames in a grassy area. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. 31 passengers were injured while 100 other occupants escaped unhurt. A passenger as well as three people cutting grass near the boundary fence were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VT-EAL, MSN 20485/277, year of manufacture 1971.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 17.4444°, 78.4677°.