Air India Flight 855: A Tragic New Year's Day Disaster Off the Coast of Mumbai

Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled international passenger service connecting Santa Cruz Airport (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, BOM) in Bombay, India, to Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This routine flight tragically became one of India's most significant aviation disasters when, on the evening of New Year's Day, January 1, 1978, the Boeing 747 operating the flight crashed into the Arabian Sea.

The aircraft, a Boeing 747-237B named "Emperor Ashoka" (registration VT-EBD), plunged into the waters approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles or 1.6 nautical miles) off the coast of Bandra, a prominent suburb of Bombay (now Mumbai). The impact resulted in the immediate loss of all 213 individuals on board, comprising 190 passengers and 23 crew members, making it a complete fatality disaster.

Unraveling the Probable Cause: Spatial Disorientation

A comprehensive investigation into the Air India Flight 855 tragedy concluded that the most probable cause of the crash was spatial disorientation experienced by the aircraft's captain. Spatial disorientation is a phenomenon where a pilot's perception of aircraft attitude, altitude, or speed differs from reality, often leading to a loss of control.

Specifically, the inquiry determined that the captain became disoriented after the failure of one of the crucial flight instruments in the cockpit: the Attitude Director Indicator (ADI), also known as the artificial horizon. This instrument provides pilots with critical information about the aircraft's pitch and roll relative to the earth's horizon. Without a reliable ADI, especially during a night departure over water where external visual references are absent, pilots can lose their sense of orientation, leading to an uncontrolled descent. The investigation suggested that the captain may have incorrectly interpreted the aircraft's attitude following the instrument failure, exacerbated by a lack of cross-verification with other available instruments or crew communication.

A Defining Event in Indian Aviation History

The crash of Air India Flight 855 stood as a somber benchmark in the history of both Air India and Indian aviation at large. It was, at the time, the deadliest aircraft crash ever experienced by Air India. This grim record, however, was tragically surpassed seven years later by the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, an act of terrorism that claimed 329 lives, making it the deadliest act of aviation terrorism globally.

Furthermore, Flight 855 was also the deadliest aviation accident within India itself until the devastating Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in 1996. That incident, which involved a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76, resulted in 349 fatalities, marking it as the deadliest mid-air collision in aviation history.

As of 2022, Air India Flight 855 regrettably remains the second deadliest aircraft crash for Air India and the second deadliest aviation accident to have occurred in India, underscoring its enduring impact on aviation safety protocols and human factors research.

Frequently Asked Questions About Air India Flight 855

When did Air India Flight 855 crash?

Air India Flight 855 crashed on January 1, 1978, on New Year's Day.

Where did Air India Flight 855 crash?

The Boeing 747 crashed into the Arabian Sea, approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) off the coast of Bandra, Bombay (now Mumbai), India.

How many people died in the Air India Flight 855 crash?

All 213 people on board, including 190 passengers and 23 crew members, perished in the disaster.

What was the determined cause of the Air India Flight 855 crash?

The official investigation determined the most probable cause was the captain becoming spatially disoriented after the failure of a crucial flight instrument, specifically the Attitude Director Indicator (ADI) or artificial horizon, in the cockpit.

What is spatial disorientation in aviation?

Spatial disorientation is a state in which a pilot's perception of the aircraft's attitude, altitude, or speed differs from actual reality, often leading to a loss of control, particularly when visual references outside the aircraft are limited or absent.

Was Air India Flight 855 Air India's deadliest crash?

At the time of the incident, it was Air India's deadliest crash. However, it was later surpassed by the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985.

Was Air India Flight 855 India's deadliest aviation accident?

Yes, it was India's deadliest aviation accident until the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in 1996.