No fatalities

Aircraft veers off runway after tire burst and gear collapse during takeoff (VT-CEJ)

New Delhi-Palam, IndiaTakeoff (climb)

On October 8, 1948, a Vickers Viking (registration VT-CEJ) operated by Indian National Airways - INA was involved in an aviation accident near New Delhi-Palam, India during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A left main tire burst caused severe vibrations that led to the collapse of the undercarriage during the takeoff roll. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft suffered a left main tire burst during the takeoff roll, leading to severe vibrations and undercarriage failure. The plane veered off the runway, resulting in significant damage but no injuries among the 23 occupants.

What happened

During the initial phase of the takeoff roll, the left main tire on the aircraft failed catastrophically. This mechanical failure triggered severe vibrations throughout the airframe, which ultimately caused the left main landing gear to collapse. As a direct result of the structural compromise and loss of control, the aircraft veered off the paved runway surface before it came to a complete stop. The incident resulted in all 23 occupants remaining uninjured, although the airframe sustained extensive damage that rendered it beyond repair.

Findings

The official investigation identified the primary sequence of events as a tire burst followed by the collapse of the undercarriage during the takeoff roll. These mechanical failures were determined to be the direct cause of the loss of control and subsequent departure from the runway.

Probable cause

A left main tire burst caused severe vibrations that led to the collapse of the undercarriage during the takeoff roll.