17 fatalities

Nighttime Hard Landing and Go-Around Crash at Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport (VT-DJJ)

Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz), IndiaLanding (descent or approach)

On June 22, 1982, a Boeing 707 (registration VT-DJJ) operated by Air India was involved in an aviation accident near Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz), India during landing or approach. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who led the aircraft adopt an excessive rate of descent during the last segment. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Boeing 707
Photo: USAF / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A night approach in poor visibility led to a hard landing and a failed go-around, resulting in a crash near the runway end. Two crew members and 15 passengers were killed, while 45 others were injured.

Incident Overview and Approach Conditions The aircraft completed an uneventful flight from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur before beginning a nighttime descent to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport. Visibility was poor due to fog and darkness. During the final approach, the captain reduced engine power to a minimum, which caused the aircraft to descend at an excessive rate. ## Hard Landing and Go-Around Attempt Twelve seconds after the power reduction, the aircraft made a hard landing on runway 27. The impact damaged the main wheel wells and tires, and several cockpit alarms sounded. The captain then increased engine power and initiated a go-around. The aircraft continued for a few hundred meters but rolled onto the right shoulder of the runway before takeoff. ## Crash and Casualties After liftoff, the stick shaker activated, indicating the aircraft was in stall conditions. The aircraft lost altitude and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. The accident killed two crew members and 15 passengers. An additional 45 occupants were injured, while 49 others escaped uninjured.

Probable cause

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who led the aircraft adopt an excessive rate of descent during the last segment.