New Delhi - Dhahran - Jeddah
Flight / Schedule
New Delhi - Dhahran - Jeddah
Aircraft
Boeing 747-100Registration
HZ-AIH
MSN
22748
Year of Manufacture
1982
Operator
Saudi Arabian Airlines - SAUDIADate
November 12, 1996 at 06:40 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Charkhi Dadri Haryana
Region
Asia • India
Coordinates
28.6001°, 76.1124°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 12, 1996 at 06:40 PM, New Delhi - Dhahran - Jeddah experienced a crash involving Boeing 747-100, operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines - SAUDIA, with the event recorded near Charkhi Dadri Haryana.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
312 people were known to be on board, 312 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 23, crew fatalities: 23, passengers on board: 289, passenger fatalities: 289, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport at 1833LT on a flight to Jeddah with an intermediate stop in Dhahran, carrying 289 passengers and 23 crew members. After takeoff, the crew was instructed to climb to FL140 via route G452. Seven minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a Kazakhstan Airlines (Kazair) Ilyushin II-76TD that was descending to New Delhi Airport. Registered UN-76435, it was completing flight KZA1907 from Shymkent with 27 passengers and 10 crew members on board. After the collision, both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located about 3 km Charkhi Dadri, some 80 km west of New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 349 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration HZ-AIH, MSN 22748, year of manufacture 1982.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 28.6001°, 76.1124°.
Fatalities
Total
312
Crew
23
Passengers
289
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft departed New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport at 1833LT on a flight to Jeddah with an intermediate stop in Dhahran, carrying 289 passengers and 23 crew members. After takeoff, the crew was instructed to climb to FL140 via route G452. Seven minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a Kazakhstan Airlines (Kazair) Ilyushin II-76TD that was descending to New Delhi Airport. Registered UN-76435, it was completing flight KZA1907 from Shymkent with 27 passengers and 10 crew members on board. After the collision, both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located about 3 km Charkhi Dadri, some 80 km west of New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 349 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
23
Passengers On Board
289
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 312
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
New Delhi - Dhahran - Jeddah
Operator
Saudi Arabian Airlines - SAUDIAFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Asia • India
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).