1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 01:55, 14 August 2023
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	* [https://fiftytwo.in/story/collision/ New article on the crash]		* [https://fiftytwo.in/story/collision/ New article on the crash]
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YCr2i8bXkg Victims, crash site of the mid-air collision] from ''[[Associated Press]] Archive''		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YCr2i8bXkg Victims, crash site of the mid-air collision] from ''[[Associated Press]] Archive''
	~~{{Portal bar\|Aviation\|India\|Saudi Arabia\|<!--For Kazakhstan-->Asia\|1990s}}~~
	{{Aviation accidents and incidents in India}}		{{Aviation accidents and incidents in India}}
	{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 1996}}		{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 1996}}

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← Older revision		Revision as of 21:17, 8 July 2023
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision, 1996}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision, 1996}}

			{{#seo:
			\|keywords=Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error, Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 747, Aviation accidents and incidents in 1996, Aviation accidents and incidents in India, 1996 in India, Mid-air collisions, Mid-air collisions involving airliners, Accidents and incidents involving the Ilyushin Il-76, Kazakhstan Airlines accidents and incidents, Saudia accidents and incidents, 1990s in Haryana, November 1996 events in Asia, Charkhi Dadri district
			\|description=
			}}

	[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error]]		[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error]]
	[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 747]]		[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 747]]

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← Older revision		Revision as of 01:45, 26 June 2022
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	\| alt =		\| alt =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| date = ~~{{Start date and age\|~~1996~~\|11\|12\|df=yes}}~~		\| date = 12 November 1996
	\| type = [[Mid-air collision]]		\| type = [[Mid-air collision]]
	\| site = [[Charkhi Dadri]], [[Haryana]], India		\| site = [[Charkhi Dadri]], [[Haryana]], India
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	\| total_survivors = 0		\| total_survivors = 0
	\| plane1_image = Saudia Boeing 747-168B HZ-AIH.jpg		\| plane1_image = Saudia Boeing 747-168B HZ-AIH.jpg
	\| plane1_caption = HZ-AIH, the ~~Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft~~ involved in the ~~accident, in~~ early 1980s.		\| plane1_caption = HZ-AIH, the 747 involved, in the early 1980s.
	\| plane1_type = [[Boeing 747-168B]]		\| plane1_type = [[Boeing 747-168B]]
	\| aircraft_name =		\| aircraft_name =
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	\| plane1_survivors = 0		\| plane1_survivors = 0
	\| plane2_image = Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76TD Goetting-1.jpg		\| plane2_image = Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76TD Goetting-1.jpg
	\| plane2_caption = UN-76435, the ~~Kazakhstan Airlines aircraft~~ involved in the ~~accident~~, in 1994.		\| plane2_caption = UN-76435, the Ilyushin Il-76TD involved in the collision, in 1994.
	\| plane2_type = [[Ilyushin Il-76TD]]		\| plane2_type = [[Ilyushin Il-76TD]]
	\| plane2_operator = [[Kazakhstan Airlines]]		\| plane2_operator = [[Kazakhstan Airlines]]
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	KZA1907 was cleared to descend to {{convert\|15000\|ft\|m}} when it was {{convert\|74\|nmi\|km}} from the beacon of the destination airport, while SVA763, travelling on the same [[Airway (aviation)\|airway]] as KZA1907 but in the opposite direction, was cleared to climb to {{convert\|14000\|ft\|m}}. About eight minutes later, around 18:40, KZA1907 reported having reached its assigned altitude of {{convert\|15000\|ft\|m}}, but it was actually lower, at {{convert\|14500\|ft\|m}}, and still descending.<ref name="ASN-KZK">{{ASN accident\|id=19961112-1\|title= Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907}}</ref> At this time, Dutta advised the flight, "Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, {{convert\|10\|nmi\|km}}. Report in sight."<ref name="collision report">{{cite web\|title=Report of Court of Inquiry on Mid-Air Collision Between Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and Kazakhstan IL-76 on 12th November, 1996 Near Delhi - India (Charkhi-Dadri, Haryana)\|url=https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/Upload?flag=iframeAttachView&attachId=130614975&mainAccidentReports\|author=Lahoti\|first=R.C.\|author-link=Ramesh Chandra Lahoti\|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)\|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]], [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)\|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]\|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>		KZA1907 was cleared to descend to {{convert\|15000\|ft\|m}} when it was {{convert\|74\|nmi\|km}} from the beacon of the destination airport, while SVA763, travelling on the same [[Airway (aviation)\|airway]] as KZA1907 but in the opposite direction, was cleared to climb to {{convert\|14000\|ft\|m}}. About eight minutes later, around 18:40, KZA1907 reported having reached its assigned altitude of {{convert\|15000\|ft\|m}}, but it was actually lower, at {{convert\|14500\|ft\|m}}, and still descending.<ref name="ASN-KZK">{{ASN accident\|id=19961112-1\|title= Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907}}</ref> At this time, Dutta advised the flight, "Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, {{convert\|10\|nmi\|km}}. Report in sight."<ref name="collision report">{{cite web\|title=Report of Court of Inquiry on Mid-Air Collision Between Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and Kazakhstan IL-76 on 12th November, 1996 Near Delhi - India (Charkhi-Dadri, Haryana)\|url=https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/Upload?flag=iframeAttachView&attachId=130614975&mainAccidentReports\|author=Lahoti\|first=R.C.\|author-link=Ramesh Chandra Lahoti\|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)\|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]], [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)\|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]\|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

	When the controller called KZA1907 again, he received no reply. He tried to warn of the other flight's distance, but was too late. The two aircraft collided, with the tail of KZA1907 slicing through SVA763's left wing and horizontal stabiliser. The crippled Boeing quickly lost control and went into a rapidly descending spiral with fire trailing from the wing, the ~~Saudi 747~~ broke up in mid air before crashing into the ground at a nearly supersonic speed of {{convert\|1135\|km/h\|mph\|abbr=on}}. The Ilyushin remained structurally intact as it entered a steady but rapid and uncontrolled descent, until it crashed in a field.<ref name="Head On" /> Rescuers discovered four critically injured passengers from the Ilyushin, but they all died soon afterwards. Two passengers from the Saudia flight survived the crash, still strapped to their seats, only to die of internal injuries soon after.<ref name="Independent1996" /><ref name="4survivors">{{citation \|url=http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2006/dec/42-44.pdf \|title=Mid-Air Disasters \|work=Flight Safety Australia \|date=November–December 2006 \|access-date=10 September 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114427/http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2006/dec/42-44.pdf \|archive-date=30 October 2008 \|page=42 \|last=Job \|first=Macarthur \|url-status=dead }}</ref> In the end, all 312 people on board SVA763 and all 37 people on KZA1907 were killed.		When the controller called KZA1907 again, he received no reply. He tried to warn of the other flight's distance, but was too late. The two aircraft collided, with the tail of KZA1907 slicing through SVA763's left wing and horizontal stabiliser. The crippled Saudi Boeing quickly lost control and went into a rapidly descending spiral with fire trailing from the wing, and the aircraft broke up in mid air before crashing into the ground at a nearly supersonic speed of {{convert\|1135\|km/h\|kn mph\|abbr=on}}. The Ilyushin remained structurally intact as it entered a steady but rapid and uncontrolled descent, until it crashed in a field.<ref name="Head On" /> Rescuers discovered four critically injured passengers from the Ilyushin, but they all died soon afterwards. Two passengers from the Saudia flight survived the crash, still strapped to their seats, only to die of internal injuries soon after.<ref name="Independent1996" /><ref name="4survivors">{{citation \|url=http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2006/dec/42-44.pdf \|title=Mid-Air Disasters \|work=Flight Safety Australia \|date=November–December 2006 \|access-date=10 September 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114427/http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2006/dec/42-44.pdf \|archive-date=30 October 2008 \|page=42 \|last=Job \|first=Macarthur \|url-status=dead }}</ref> In the end, all 312 people on board SVA763 and all 37 people on KZA1907 were killed.

	Captain Timothy J. Place, a pilot for the [[United States Air Force]], was the sole eyewitness of the event. He was making an initial approach in a [[Lockheed C-141B Starlifter]] when he saw that "a large cloud lit up with an orange glow".<ref name="Alliant Content - Head On"/>

	The collision took place about {{convert\|60\|mi\|-1\|order=flip}} west of Delhi.<ref name="Human error is blamed for crash" /> The wreckage of the Saudi Arabian aircraft landed near Dhani village, [[Bhiwani District]], Haryana. The wreckage of the Kazakh aircraft hit the ground near [[Birohar]] village, [[Rohtak District]], Haryana.<ref name="acc96.pdf" />		The collision took place about {{convert\|60\|mi\|-1\|order=flip}} west of Delhi.<ref name="Human error is blamed for crash" /> The wreckage of the Saudi Arabian aircraft landed near Dhani village, [[Bhiwani District]], Haryana. The wreckage of the Kazakh aircraft hit the ground near [[Birohar]] village, [[Rohtak District]], Haryana.<ref name="acc96.pdf" />
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	<ref name="acc96.pdf">{{cite web\|title= Civil aviation aircraft accident summary for the year 1996\|publisher= [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)\|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]\|url= http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc96.pdf\|url-status= dead\|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150103164042/http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc96.pdf\|archive-date= 3 January 2015\|df= dmy-all}} </ref>		<ref name="acc96.pdf">{{cite web\|title= Civil aviation aircraft accident summary for the year 1996\|publisher= [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)\|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]\|url= http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc96.pdf\|url-status= dead\|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150103164042/http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc96.pdf\|archive-date= 3 January 2015\|df= dmy-all}} </ref>
	<!-- + -->		<!-- + -->

			<!-- Not in use
	<ref name="Alliant Content - Head On">{{cite news\|title=YouTube.Com – Pure History Specials: Head On Air Crash\|publisher=Alliant Content\|date= 16 May 2013\|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18hX_UFIyc\|access-date=25 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links\|date=February 2022}}</ref>		<ref name="Alliant Content - Head On">{{cite news\|title=YouTube.Com – Pure History Specials: Head On Air Crash\|publisher=Alliant Content\|date= 16 May 2013\|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18hX_UFIyc\|access-date=25 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links\|date=February 2022}}</ref>
			Not in use-->

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	<ref name="At Least 349 Are Killed in Collision">{{cite news		<ref name="At Least 349 Are Killed in Collision">{{cite news
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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	{{ external media		{{external media
	\| align = right		\| align = right
	\| width =		\| width =
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	[[Category:1990s in Haryana]]		[[Category:1990s in Haryana]]
	[[Category:November 1996 events in Asia]]		[[Category:November 1996 events in Asia]]
			[[Category:Charkhi Dadri district]]

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{{short description|November 1996 mid-air plane collision in northern India}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| occurrence_type = Accident
| name = Saudia Flight 763<br />Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| date = {{Start date and age|1996|11|12|df=yes}}
| type = [[Mid-air collision]]
| site = [[Charkhi Dadri]], [[Haryana]], India
| coordinates = {{coord|28|33|38|N|76|18|15|E|display=inline,title}}
| total_fatalities = 349
| total_survivors = 0
| plane1_image = Saudia Boeing 747-168B HZ-AIH.jpg
| plane1_caption = HZ-AIH, the Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft involved in the accident, in early 1980s.
| plane1_type = [[Boeing 747-168B]]
| aircraft_name =
| plane1_operator = [[Saudi Arabian Airlines|Saudia]]
| plane1_tailnum = HZ-AIH
| plane1_origin = [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]], [[Delhi]], India
| stopover =
| stopover0 =
| last_stopover =
| plane1_destination = [[Dhahran International Airport]], [[Dhahran]], Saudi Arabia
| plane1_passengers = 289
| plane1_crew = 23
| plane1_fatalities = 312
| injuries =
| missing =
| plane1_survivors = 0
| plane2_image = Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76TD Goetting-1.jpg
| plane2_caption = UN-76435, the Kazakhstan Airlines aircraft involved in the accident, in 1994.
| plane2_type = [[Ilyushin Il-76TD]]
| plane2_operator = [[Kazakhstan Airlines]]
| plane2_tailnum = UN-76435
| plane2_origin = [[Shymkent International Airport|Chimkent Airport]], Kazakhstan
| plane2_destination = [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]], [[Delhi]], India
| plane2_passengers = 27
| plane2_crew = 10
| plane2_fatalities = 37
| plane2_survivors = 0
}}

On 12 November 1996, '''Saudia Flight 763''', a [[Boeing 747]] en route from [[Delhi]], India, to [[Dhahran]], Saudi Arabia, and '''Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907''', an [[Ilyushin Il-76]] en route from [[Chimkent]], Kazakhstan, to Delhi, collided over the village of [[Charkhi Dadri]], around {{cvt|100|km|mi nmi|abbr=}} west of Delhi. The crash killed all 349 people on board both planes, making it the [[Mid-air collision#List of notable civilian and military-civilian mid-air collisions|world's deadliest mid-air collision]]<ref name="At Least 349 Are Killed in Collision" /><ref name="Charkhi Dadri collision report expected this weekend" /> and the deadliest aviation accident to occur in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|title= India air safety profile|work= Aviation Safety Network|url= http://aviation-safety.net/database/country/country.php?id=VT|access-date= 10 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Two Airliners Collide in Midair, Killing All 351 Aboard in India" />

==Collision==
The Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) [[Boeing 747-100#747-100|Boeing 747-168B]], [[Aircraft registration|registration]] HZ-AIH,<ref name="19961112-0">{{ASN accident|id= 19961112-0|title= HZ-AIH}}</ref> was flying the first leg of a scheduled international [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]]–[[King Abdulaziz Air Base|Dhahran]]–[[King Abdulaziz International Airport|Jeddah]] passenger service as Flight SVA763 with 312 people on board;<ref name="Collision raises doubts on ATC routeings" /> the Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76TD,<ref name="ASN-KZK" /> registration UN-76435, was on a charter service from [[Shymkent International Airport|Chimkent Airport]] to Delhi as KZA1907.<ref name="Collision raises doubts on ATC routeings" /> SVA763 departed Delhi at 18:32 [[Time in India|local time]] (13:02 UTC).<ref name="19961112-0" /> KZA1907 was descending simultaneously, to land at Delhi.<ref name="Collision raises doubts on ATC routeings" /> Both flights were controlled by [[air traffic controller|approach controller]] VK Dutta. The crew of SVA763 consisted of Captain Khalid Al-Shubaily, First Officer Nazir Khan, and Flight Engineer Ahmed Edrees. The crew of KZA1907 consisted of Captain Alexander Cherepanov, First Officer Ermek Dzhangirov, Flight Engineer Alexander Chuprov, Navigator Zhahanbek Aripbaev, and Radio Operator Egor Repp.<ref name="One Jet in Crash Over India Ruled Off Course" /><ref name="collision report"/>

KZA1907 was cleared to descend to {{convert|15000|ft|m}} when it was {{convert|74|nmi|km}} from the beacon of the destination airport, while SVA763, travelling on the same [[Airway (aviation)|airway]] as KZA1907 but in the opposite direction, was cleared to climb to {{convert|14000|ft|m}}. About eight minutes later, around 18:40, KZA1907 reported having reached its assigned altitude of {{convert|15000|ft|m}}, but it was actually lower, at {{convert|14500|ft|m}}, and still descending.<ref name="ASN-KZK">{{ASN accident|id=19961112-1|title= Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907}}</ref> At this time, Dutta advised the flight, "Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, {{convert|10|nmi|km}}. Report in sight."<ref name="collision report">{{cite web|title=Report of Court of Inquiry on Mid-Air Collision Between Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and Kazakhstan IL-76 on 12th November, 1996 Near Delhi - India (Charkhi-Dadri, Haryana)|url=https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/Upload?flag=iframeAttachView&attachId=130614975&mainAccidentReports|author=Lahoti|first=R.C.|author-link=Ramesh Chandra Lahoti|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]], [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

When the controller called KZA1907 again, he received no reply. He tried to warn of the other flight's distance, but was too late. The two aircraft collided, with the tail of KZA1907 slicing through SVA763's left wing and horizontal stabiliser. The crippled Boeing quickly lost control and went into a rapidly descending spiral with fire trailing from the wing, the Saudi 747 broke up in mid air before crashing into the ground at a nearly supersonic speed of {{convert|1135|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The Ilyushin remained structurally intact as it entered a steady but rapid and uncontrolled descent, until it crashed in a field.<ref name="Head On" /> Rescuers discovered four critically injured passengers from the Ilyushin, but they all died soon afterwards. Two passengers from the Saudia flight survived the crash, still strapped to their seats, only to die of internal injuries soon after.<ref name="Independent1996" /><ref name="4survivors">{{citation |url=http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2006/dec/42-44.pdf |title=Mid-Air Disasters |work=Flight Safety Australia |date=November–December 2006 |access-date=10 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114427/http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2006/dec/42-44.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2008 |page=42 |last=Job |first=Macarthur |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the end, all 312 people on board SVA763 and all 37 people on KZA1907 were killed.

Captain Timothy J. Place, a pilot for the [[United States Air Force]], was the sole eyewitness of the event. He was making an initial approach in a [[Lockheed C-141B Starlifter]] when he saw that "a large cloud lit up with an orange glow".<ref name="Alliant Content - Head On"/>

The collision took place about {{convert|60|mi|-1|order=flip}} west of Delhi.<ref name="Human error is blamed for crash" /> The wreckage of the Saudi Arabian aircraft landed near Dhani village, [[Bhiwani District]], Haryana. The wreckage of the Kazakh aircraft hit the ground near [[Birohar]] village, [[Rohtak District]], Haryana.<ref name="acc96.pdf" />

==Passengers and crew==

===Saudia Flight 763===
The captain of the flight was a 45-year old veteran pilot with more than 9,800 flying hours.<ref name="acc96.pdf" /> An article published in ''[[The New York Times]]'' on 14 November 1996 stated that 215 Indians who boarded the flight worked in Saudi Arabia;<ref name="Indian Officials Gather Evidence on Midair Collision" /> many of them worked or planned to work in [[blue-collar]] jobs<ref name="Indian law may restrain size of crash claims" /> as house maids, drivers, and cooks. The article also stated that 40 Nepalis and three Americans boarded the Saudi flight.<ref name="Indian Officials Gather Evidence on Midair Collision"/> According to an article published a day earlier in the same newspaper, the passenger manifest included 17 people of other nationalities, including nine Nepalis, three Pakistanis, two Americans, one Bangladeshi, one [[United Kingdom|British]], and one Saudi.<ref name="Two Airliners Collide in Midair, Killing All 351 Aboard in India" /> Twelve of the crew members, including five anti-terrorism officials, were Saudi citizens.<ref name="Pilot error focus of India collision investigation" />

===Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907===

The captain of Flight 1907, aged 44, was also highly experienced, with more than 9,200 flight hours.<ref name="acc96.pdf" /> A company from [[Kyrgyzstan]] chartered the flight, and the passenger manifest mostly included [[Russians in Kyrgyzstan|ethnic Russian]] Kyrgyz citizens planning to go shopping in India.<ref name="Two Airliners Collide in Midair, Killing All 351 Aboard in India"/><ref name="One Jet in Crash Over India Ruled Off Course"/><ref name="Indian Officials Gather Evidence on Midair Collision"/> Thirteen Kyrgyz traders boarded the flight.<ref name="Pilot error focus of India collision investigation"/>

==Investigation and final report==
The crash was investigated by the Lahoti Commission, headed by then-Delhi High Court judge [[Ramesh Chandra Lahoti]]. Depositions were taken from the Air Traffic Controllers Guild and the two airlines. The [[flight data recorder]]s were decoded by Kazakhstan Airlines and Saudia under the supervision of air crash investigators in Moscow and [[Air Accidents Investigation Branch|Farnborough]], England, respectively.<ref name="Head On" /> The ultimate cause was held to be the failure of Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907's pilot to follow ATC instructions, whether due to cloud turbulence or due to communication problems.<ref name="collision report" /><ref name="Turbulence factor gains ground in Charkhi-Dadri crash probe" /><ref name="Kazakh aircraft held responsible for Charkhi Dadri mishap" /><ref name="The truth behind the 10 deadliest plane crashes of all time" />{{acn|date=May 2020}}

The commission determined that the accident had been the fault of the Kazakhstani Il-76 commander, who (according to FDR evidence) had descended from the assigned altitude of {{convert|15000|to|14500|ft|m}} and subsequently {{convert|14000|ft|m}} and even lower. The report ascribed the cause of this serious breach in operating procedure to the lack of English language skills on the part of the Kazakhstani aircraft pilots; they were relying entirely on their radio operator for communications with the ATC. The radio operator did not have his own flight instrumentation and had to look over the pilots' shoulders for a reading.<ref name=red1>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/may/15aai.htm |date=26 May 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991007030506/http://www.rediff.com/news/may/15aai.htm |archive-date=7 October 1999 |title=Communication gap caused Charkhi Dadri mishap |publisher=[[Rediff]] |access-date=4 July 2006}}</ref> Kazakhstani officials stated that the aircraft had descended while their pilots were fighting [[turbulence]] inside a bank of [[Cumulus cloud|cumulus]] clouds.<ref name="collision report" /><ref name="Kazakh aircraft held responsible for Charkhi Dadri mishap" />{{bsn|date=May 2020}}

Indian air controllers also complained that the Kazakhstani pilots sometimes confused their calculations because they are accustomed to using metre altitudes and kilometre distances, while most other countries use feet and nautical miles respectively for aerial navigation.<ref name=Independent1996 />

Just a few seconds from impact, the Kazakhstani plane climbed slightly and the two planes collided. This was because the radio operator of Kazakhstan 1907 discovered only then that they were not at 15,000 feet and asked the pilot to climb. The captain gave orders for full throttle, and the plane climbed, only to hit the oncoming Saudi Arabian plane. The tail of the Kazakhstani plane clipped the left wing of the Saudi Arabian jet, severing both parts from their respective planes. Had the Kazakhstani pilots not climbed slightly, it is likely that they would have passed under the Saudi Arabian plane.{{cn|date=February 2022}}

The recorder of the Saudi Arabian plane revealed the pilots recited the prayer that is required, according to [[Sharia| Islamic law]], when one faces death.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021|reason=This claim is not stated in the sources in the paragraph. Possibly in the documentary but need better sourcing.}} The counsel for the ATC Guild denied the presence of turbulence, quoting meteorological reports, but did state that the collision occurred inside a cloud.<ref name=red1/> This was substantiated by the affidavit of Capt. Place, who was the commander of the aforementioned [[Lockheed C-141B Starlifter]], which was flying into New Delhi at the time of the crash.<ref name="Head On" /> The members of his crew filed similar affidavits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/may/26air.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991011103254/http://www.rediff.com/news/may/26air.htm |archive-date=11 October 1999 |title=Charkhi Dadri collision occurred in "heavy clouds": US pilot |publisher=[[Rediff]] |access-date=4 July 2006 }}</ref>

Furthermore, [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] did not have [[secondary surveillance radar]], which provides extra information, such as the aircraft's identity and altitude, by reading [[Transponder (aviation)|transponder]] signals; instead the airport had [[primary radar]], which produces readings of distance and bearing, but not altitude. In addition, departures and arrivals both shared a single corridor within the civilian airspace around New Delhi. Most areas have separate corridors: one for departures and another one for arrivals. But the airspace of Delhi in 1996 had only one civilian corridor because much of the airspace was taken by the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="Head On" /> Due to the crash, the air-crash investigation report recommended changes to air-traffic procedures and infrastructure in New Delhi's air-space:<ref name="collision report" />

* Separation of inbound and outbound aircraft through the creation of 'air corridors'
* Installation of a secondary air-traffic control radar for aircraft altitude data
* Mandatory collision avoidance equipment on commercial aircraft operating in Indian airspace
* Reduction of the airspace over New Delhi that was formerly under exclusive control of the Indian Air Force

==Aftermath==
The [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] subsequently made it mandatory for all aircraft flying in and out of India to be equipped with an [[airborne collision avoidance system]]. This set a worldwide precedent for mandatory use of [[Traffic Collision Avoidance System]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurocontrol.int/articles/history-future-airborne-collision-avoidance|title=History & future of airborne collision avoidance|date=9 March 2012|website=Eurocontrol|language=en}}</ref>

==Documentaries==
[[Miditech]], a company based in [[Gurgaon|Gurugram]], Haryana, produced a documentary about the disaster called ''Head On!'', which aired on the [[National Geographic Channel]].<ref name="Head On" />

The disaster was also the subject of an episode in the documentary series ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday (Air Crash Investigation)]]'' on 11 November 2009 entitled "Sight Unseen", also shown on the National Geographic Channel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Haryana India 1996 Plane Crash, Head on Collision |publisher=National Geographic Channel |url=http://www.natgeochannel.co.uk/programmes/air-crash-investigation/india-haryana-1996 |work=National Geographic Channel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410080329/http://www.natgeochannel.co.uk/Programmes/air-crash-investigation/india-haryana-1996 |archive-date=10 April 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 April 2009 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving airliners by airline]]
* [[2002 Überlingen mid-air collision|Überlingen mid-air collision]]
* [[2001 Japan Airlines mid-air incident]]

== References ==
* {{cite web|author=Lahoti, R.C.|author-link=Ramesh Chandra Lahoti|url=https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?dynamicPage=dynamicPdf/130614975&mainAccidentReports/500005/0/viewApplicationDtlsReq|title=Report of Court of Inquiry on Mid-Air Collision Between Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and Kazakhstan IL-76 on 12th November, 1996 Near Delhi - India (Charkhi-Dadri, Haryana)|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]], [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20200525230709/https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/Upload?flag=iframeAttachView&attachId=130614975&mainAccidentReports PDF])

=== Reference notes ===
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="acc96.pdf">{{cite web|title= Civil aviation aircraft accident summary for the year 1996|publisher= [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]|url= http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc96.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150103164042/http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc96.pdf|archive-date= 3 January 2015|df= dmy-all}} </ref>

<ref name="Alliant Content - Head On">{{cite news|title=YouTube.Com – Pure History Specials: Head On Air Crash|publisher=Alliant Content|date= 16 May 2013|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18hX_UFIyc|access-date=25 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="At Least 349 Are Killed in Collision">{{cite news
|title=At Least 349 Are Killed in Collision
|first=Kenneth J.
|last=Cooper
|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]
|date=13 November 1996
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/flight801/stories/1996crash.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626103717/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/flight801/stories/1996crash.htm
|archive-date=26 June 2013
|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Charkhi Dadri collision report expected this weekend">{{cite news|title= Charkhi Dadri collision report expected this weekend|first= Syed Firdaus|last= Ashraf|location= New Delhi|work= [[Rediff]]|url= http://www.rediff.com/news/mar/11air.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140410180434/http://www.rediff.com/news/mar/11air.htm|archive-date= 10 April 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Collision raises doubts on ATC routeings">{{cite news|title= Collision raises doubts on ATC routeings|first1= Max|last1= Kingsley-Jones|first2= David|last2= Learmount|publisher= [[Flightglobal]]|agency= [[Flight International]]|date= 20 September 1996|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/collision-raises-doubts-on-atc-routeings-10013/|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150101143223/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/collision-raises-doubts-on-atc-routeings-10013/|archive-date= 1 January 2015|df= dmy-all}} </ref>

<ref name="Head On">{{cite AV media |url=http://www.miditech.tv/content.aspx?page=HeadOn |title=Head On – AirCrash |type=TV documentary |publisher=[[Miditech]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323002305/http://www.miditech.tv/content.aspx?page=HeadOn |archive-date=23 March 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Human error is blamed for crash">{{cite news|title=Human error is blamed for crash |last=Bellamy |first=Christopher |work=[[The Independent]] |date=13 November 1996 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/human-error-is-blamed-for-crash-1352080.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226013332/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/human-error-is-blamed-for-crash-1352080.html |archive-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name=Independent1996>{{cite news|title= THE INDIAN AIR CRASH: Tapes point blame at Kazakh pilot|first= Tim|last= McGirk|newspaper= The Independent|date= 14 November 1996|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/the-indian-air-crash-tapes-point-blame-at-kazakh-pilot-1352266.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190501173653/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/the-indian-air-crash-tapes-point-blame-at-kazakh-pilot-1352266.html|archive-date= 1 May 2019|url-status= live}}</ref>

<ref name="Indian law may restrain size of crash claims">{{cite news|title= Indian law may restrain size of crash claims|first1= Shapiro|last1= Stacy|first2= Marathe|last2= Kaumudi|publisher= Business Insurance|date= 18 November 1996|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18932971.html|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110517012927/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18932971.html|archive-date= 17 May 2011|df= dmy-all}} </ref>

<ref name="Indian Officials Gather Evidence on Midair Collision">{{cite news|title= Indian Officials Gather Evidence on Midair Collision|first= John F.|last= Burns|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|date= 14 November 1996|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/14/world/indian-officials-gather-evidence-on-midair-collision.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150103165051/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/14/world/indian-officials-gather-evidence-on-midair-collision.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|archive-date= 3 January 2015|df= dmy-all}} </ref>

<ref name="Kazakh aircraft held responsible for Charkhi Dadri mishap">{{cite web|title= Kazakh aircraft held responsible for Charkhi Dadri mishap|website= www.rediff.com|date= 1997|url= https://www.rediff.com/news/jul/17aai.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200523162558/https://www.rediff.com/news/jul/17aai.htm|archive-date= 23 May 2020|url-status= live}}</ref>

<ref name="One Jet in Crash Over India Ruled Off Course">{{cite news|title= One Jet in Crash Over India Ruled Off Course|first= John F.|last= Burns|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|date= 5 May 1997|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/05/world/one-jet-in-crash-over-india-ruled-off-course.html|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180303160858/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/05/world/one-jet-in-crash-over-india-ruled-off-course.html|archive-date= 3 March 2018|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Pilot error focus of India collision investigation">{{cite news|title= Pilot error focus of India collision investigation|work= [[CNN]]|date= 14 November 1996|location= New Delhi|url= http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9611/14/india/index.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000128142927/http://cnn.com/WORLD/9611/14/india/index.html|archive-date= 28 January 2000}}</ref>

<ref name="The truth behind the 10 deadliest plane crashes of all time">{{cite news|title= The truth behind the 10 deadliest plane crashes of all time|first= Hugh|last= Morris|date= 12 July 2017|newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/the-deadliest-aviation-plane-crashes-disasters-in-history/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200523163241/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/the-deadliest-aviation-plane-crashes-disasters-in-history/|archive-date= 23 May 2020|url-status= live}}</ref>

<ref name="Two Airliners Collide in Midair, Killing All 351 Aboard in India">{{cite news|title= Two Airliners Collide in Midair, Killing All 351 Aboard in India|last= Burns|first= John F.|work= The New York Times|date= 13 November 1996|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/13/world/two-airliners-collide-in-midair-killing-all-351-aboard-in-india.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140306143403/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/13/world/two-airliners-collide-in-midair-killing-all-351-aboard-in-india.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|archive-date= 6 March 2014|url-status= live|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Turbulence factor gains ground in Charkhi-Dadri crash probe">{{cite news|title= Turbulence factor gains ground in Charkhi-Dadri crash probe|agency= [[United News of India]]|newspaper= [[The Indian Express]]|date= 26 May 1997|url= http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970526/14650143.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090525101011/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970526/14650143.html|archive-date= 25 May 2009|url-status= dead}}</ref>
|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{interlanguage link|Anas al-Qawz|ar|أنس عبد الحميد القوز}}. ''{{interlanguage link|A Pilot's Encounters|ar|مواقف طيار (كتاب)}}''. Obeikan, 2000. {{in lang|ar}}: Book by a Saudi pilot which discusses this incident
* Bhavya Dore. "[https://fiftytwo.in/story/collision/ Collision]". ''Fifty Two''. 9 October 2020.

== External links ==
{{ external media
| align = right
| width =
| image1 = [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=&airlinesearch=&countrysearch=&specialsearch=&daterange=&keywords=hz-aih&range=&sort_order=&page_limit=15&thumbnails=&calccount=5&truecount=true&engine_version=6.0 Pre-Crash photos of the two airliners at Airliners.net]}}
*[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]
** [https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?dynamicPage=dynamicPdf/130614975&mainAccidentReports/500005/0/viewApplicationDtlsReq Final Report]
** [http://dgca.nic.in/circular/ops/Ops03_99.pdf OPERATIONS CIRCULAR NO.3 OF 1999] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224021315/http://dgca.nic.in/circular/ops/Ops03_99.pdf |date=24 February 2012 }})
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20020911221032/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9611/12/india.air.crash/index.html Officials say hundreds feared killed in airline collision over India]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6SCD3VG5R?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20020911221032/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9611/12/india.air.crash/index.html Archive]). ''[[CNN]]''. 12 November 1996.
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20011202064042/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9611/14/india/index.html Pilot error focus of India collision investigation]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6SCCzpZ5X?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20011202064042/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9611/14/india/index.html Archive]). ''[[CNN]]''. 14 November 1996.
* Burns, John F. "[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE6DB163AF936A25752C1A960958260 Indian and Kazak Officials Trade Accusations in Air Collision]." ''[[The New York Times]]''. 15 November 1996.
*Centre for Disaster Management (Haryana Institute of Public Administration) [https://web.archive.org/web/20160223114256/http://www.cdmhipa.in/images/Case%20Study/casestudy.php Case Study: Charkhi Dadri Mid Air Collision]
* [https://fiftytwo.in/story/collision/ New article on the crash]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YCr2i8bXkg Victims, crash site of the mid-air collision] from ''[[Associated Press]] Archive''
{{Portal bar|Aviation|India|Saudi Arabia|Asia|1990s}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in India}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision, 1996}}
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 747]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1996]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India]]
[[Category:1996 in India]]
[[Category:Mid-air collisions]]
[[Category:Mid-air collisions involving airliners]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Ilyushin Il-76]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan Airlines accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Saudia accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:1990s in Haryana]]
[[Category:November 1996 events in Asia]]