What happened
During an approach to runway 10 at New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport, the flight crew encountered extremely low visibility caused by dense fog. In an attempt to navigate the conditions, the crew requested guidance from Air Traffic Control. As the aircraft was on short final approach, it descended below the necessary altitude without the crew recognizing the danger. The aircraft collided with power lines and a concrete water tank before impacting the ground in the Pappankalan district, approximately 2.4 km before reaching the runway threshold. The impact destroyed both the aircraft and a nearby structure.
Findings
- The accident resulted in 18 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft and 3 fatalities on the ground.
- The primary factor in the crash was the crew's failure to maintain sufficient altitude during the descent in low-visibility conditions.