117 fatalities

1966-01-24: Air India Flight 101 — France

France

On January 24, 1966, an Air India Flight 101 was involved in an aviation accident near France. 117 people were killed. The investigation identified controlled flight into terrain as a causal factor. This summary draws on records from Wikidata contributors; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesWikidata contributorsPrimary reportUpdated 1780111919Data APIEditorial standards

On 24 January 1966, Air India Flight 101, a Boeing 707-437 en route from Bombay to London, struck Mont Blanc in France during approach to Geneva, killing all 117 aboard, including atomic energy pioneer Homi Jehangir Bhabha.

Accident

On the morning of 24 January 1966, Air India Flight 101, a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay to London via Delhi, Beirut, and Geneva, was approaching Geneva. At 08:02 CET, the Boeing 707-437 operating the flight crashed into Mont Blanc in France. All 117 people on board lost their lives.

Victims

Among the victims was Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the founder and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India. The flight was carrying a full complement of passengers and crew, none of whom survived the impact.

Background

Air India Flight 101 was a regular service connecting India with Europe. The aircraft type was a Boeing 707-437, a four-engine jetliner. The flight had originated in Bombay and made scheduled stops before the final leg to Geneva. The accident occurred on a clear morning, but the exact circumstances leading to the collision with the mountain remain as described in the official investigation.

Contributing factors

controlled flight into terrain

Investigation report by Wikidata contributors. Original record: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4016228. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the CC0 (Wikidata).