What happened
During a nighttime arrival at Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, an aircraft traveling from Singapore with a stop in Kuala Lumpur encountered low visibility caused by fog. While on final approach, the captain decreased engine power to minimum levels, which resulted in the aircraft-type experiencing an excessive rate of descent. The plane struck runway 27 with significant force, causing damage to the tires and main wheel wells while triggering multiple cockpit alarms.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot increased thrust to perform a go-around. Although the aircraft gained some distance, it drifted onto the right shoulder of the runway during the maneuver. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft entered a stall condition, indicated by the activation of the stick shaker. The plane lost altitude and crashed near the end of the runway, subsequently catching fire. The accident resulted in 17 fatalities (two crew members and 15 passengers) and 45 injuries, while 49 individuals on board escaped without harm.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary factor was an improper approach configuration by the flight crew, which led to the uncontrolled descent rate during the final segment of the flight.