What happened
During a departure from runway 27 at Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, the aircraft experienced a critical failure of the right engine. While climbing, the engine exploded and ignited, prompting the captain to declare an emergency with Air Traffic Control. The flight crew was instructed to perform a circuit for a return approach via runway 09.
As the aircraft descended on its final approach, it reached an altitude of approximately 300 feet when the nose pitched down to a 45-degree angle. The plane struck the ground roughly one kilometer before reaching runway 09, resulting in a massive explosion. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, and there were 95 fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations determined that the incident originated from the failure of the compressor disc's 10th stage, likely triggered by fatigue cracks in a blade. This mechanical failure released debris that severed both hydraulic and fuel lines. The resulting leakage of fluids into the engine led to ignition upon contact with high-temperature components. A significant factor in the accident was the crew's failure to deactivate the fuel supply system, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly throughout the engine compartment.