1996-11-12
Saudia / Kazakhstan Airlines
Flight SV763 / KZ1907
Departure
Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India
Destination
King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Causation Breakdown
Recurrence Likelihood Today
Very Low
TCAS is now mandatory on all commercial aircraft and provides automatic resolution advisories independent of ATC. Secondary radar is standard at major airports globally.
Summary
The world's deadliest mid-air collision occurred when a Kazakhstan Airlines Il-76 descended below its assigned altitude and struck a Saudia 747 climbing out of New Delhi. All 349 aboard both aircraft were killed. The absence of ground radar and communication difficulties between the Kazakh crew and Indian ATC were key contributing factors.
Cause & Investigation
Determined cause
Mid-air collision
The Kazakh Il-76 crew descended below their assigned altitude of 15,000 ft while approaching Delhi, colliding head-on with the Saudi 747 climbing out of the same airport. The absence of secondary surveillance radar at Delhi and language barriers between ATC and the Kazakh crew contributed to the disaster.
Investigation body
Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) with participation from Saudi and Kazakh authorities.
Timeline & Safety Improvements
Flight SV763 / KZ1907 disaster
Boeing 747-168B / Ilyushin Il-76TD operating for Saudia / Kazakhstan Airlines. 349 fatalities, 0 survivors.
Formal investigation opened
Conducted by: Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) with participation from Saudi and Kazakh authorities.
Cause determined: Mid-air collision
The Kazakh Il-76 crew descended below their assigned altitude of 15,000 ft while approaching Delhi, colliding head-on with the Saudi 747 climbing out of the same airport. The absence of secondary surveillance radar at Delhi and language barriers between ATC and the Kazakh crew contributed to the disaster.
Improvement implemented
Secondary surveillance radar (SSR) was installed at major Indian airports as a priority.
Improvement implemented
Mandatory ICAO-standard English proficiency was reinforced for all crews operating internationally.
Improvement implemented
TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) mandate was accelerated for commercial aircraft worldwide.
Improvement implemented
Stricter separation standards were introduced for simultaneous departure and arrival operations.