Accident Overview
Indian Airlines Flight 171 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by a Sud Aviation Caravelle. On 12 October 1976, while attempting an emergency landing at Bombay Airport, the aircraft crashed, resulting in the deaths of all 95 occupants.
Engine Failure
The accident was precipitated by an uncontained failure of the No. 2 engine. Investigators determined that metal fatigue in the engine's 10th stage high-pressure compressor disk caused it to disintegrate during flight.
Fire and Loss of Control
Fragments from the disintegrating disk severed fuel lines, allowing fuel to leak into the engine area. The leaking fuel ignited, producing an uncontrolled fire. The fire eventually affected the aircraft's control surfaces, leading to a loss of control and the subsequent crash.