What happened
A long-haul flight operated by Air India, traveling from Bombay toward New York via several European stops including Beirut, was descending toward Geneva-Cointrin Airport. The Boeing 747 was carrying 106 passengers and 11 crew members at the time of the accident. While flying at approximately 15,000 feet, the crew requested permission from Air Traffic Control to perform a 'VMC on top' descent, intending to fly roughly 1,000 feet above the cloud layer.
Approximately twenty minutes before its scheduled arrival in Geneva, the aircraft collided with the Mont Blanc massif at an altitude of 4,677 meters. The impact caused the plane to disintegrate, leaving wreckage scattered across deep snow near the Rocher de la Tournette. There were 117 fatalities and no survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors related to navigation and communication. The aircraft had departed Beirut with one inoperative VOR, which contributed to navigational difficulties. The pilot-in-command miscalculated the aircraft's position relative to the Mont Blanc summit and provided an incorrect position estimate to the controller.
Although the radar controller identified the error and attempted to provide a correction, imprecise phraseology led to a misunderstanding by the pilot. Under the false impression that the aircraft had already cleared the mountain ridge and was at a safe altitude, the crew continued their descent. Additionally, the low angle of the sun may have caused visual distortions, further complicating the crew's perception of the terrain.