What happened
A domestic flight operating the Night Air Mail Service route from Madras to New Delhi via Nagpur ended in a fatal accident in September 1963. The Vickers Viscount, registered as VT-DIO, departed Madras on 10 September at 22:40 IST and completed its first leg to Nagpur without incident. Following a crew change, the aircraft departed Nagpur at 02:37 on 11 September.
During the flight toward Delhi, the crew experienced communication issues beginning at 02:58. The final transmission from the aircraft occurred at 03:36, at which point the plane was cruising at 16,500 feet under clear skies. At that time, the crew estimated they would reach the Delhi Control boundary by 04:05. Despite having sufficient fuel to remain airborne until 09:50, the aircraft disappeared from radar.
At roughly 04:00, the aircraft struck a field near the village of Patti, located approximately 15 miles from Agra. The impact triggered an immediate fire and explosion. There were no survivors among the crew on board.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to determine a definitive cause for the crash. Investigators noted that while evidence was limited, a sudden failure of electrical power or autopilot malfunction may have prevented the crew from maintaining control, leading to a rapid loss of altitude.