What happened
During a nighttime approach to New Delhi-Palam Airport, the flight crew initially aborted their landing procedure and performed a go-around. While attempting a second approach shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted the ground approximately 1,600 meters before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all 18 occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that during the second landing attempt, the crew descended below the established glide path. Although the captain attempted to execute a go-around maneuver after realizing the altitude was insufficient, the process was unsuccessful because the flaps were not set to the proper angle. This configuration led to an aerodynamic stall from which recovery was impossible due to the low altitude. Additionally, limited visibility during the night operations was identified as a contributing factor to the event.