"World's Deadliest Mid-Air Collision: The 1996 Charkhi Dadri Tragedy and Its Lasting Impact on Aviation Safety"

1 year ago

The mid-air collision near Delhi, known as the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, occurred on November 12, 1996. It involved a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76. The collision happened in Indian airspace, near the village of Charkhi Dadri, about 100 kilometers west of Delhi.

The Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 was en route from Delhi to Dhahran, while the Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 was descending into Delhi. The collision resulted from a miscommunication and lack of situational awareness, causing the two aircraft to be on a collision course.

All 349 passengers and crew on both flights perished, making it the world's deadliest mid-air collision. The tragedy underscored the critical need for improved air traffic control procedures and communication protocols. Subsequently, it led to significant changes in Indian airspace management and the implementation of mandatory TCAS on aircraft to prevent such disasters in the future.

Transcript

00:00How did human error and communication breakdown lead to the catastrophic midair collision of 1996?

00:06Join us as we delve into the chilling details of this tragic event. On a clear day, two aircraft, a Boeing

00:14747 and an Ilyushin Il-76 were set on a collision course that would change aviation forever.

00:20The Boeing, operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines, was climbing to 14,000 feet, while the Ilyushin,

00:26managed by Kazakhstan Airlines, was descending to 15,000 feet.

00:31Tragically, due to severe miscommunication and human error, the Kazakh aircraft descended below its assigned altitude.

00:39Language barriers and the crew's limited English proficiency led to a fatal misunderstanding of air traffic controls instructions.

00:46This catastrophic event not only claimed

00:49349 lives, but also highlighted critical vulnerabilities in air traffic control systems and cockpit communications.

00:56In response, the International Civil Aviation Organization

01:00mandated the installation of Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems, or TCAS, on all commercial aircraft.

01:05Additionally, air traffic control procedures were overhauled to include better radar coverage and enhanced training in English proficiency and standardized