Indian Airlines Flight 491
Indian Airlines Flight 491 was a scheduled passenger flight on its connecting route from Delhi to Bombay, with stops en route at Jaipur, Udaipur, and Aurangabad.
.jpg.webp) An Indian Airlines Boeing 737-2A8 similar to the one involved. | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 April 1993 |
| Summary | Crashed shortly after takeoff due to pilot error |
| Site | Aurangabad Airport, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India 19.8833°N 75.3333°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737-2A8 |
| Operator | Indian Airlines |
| Registration | VT-ECQ |
| Flight origin | Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi |
| 1st stopover | Jaipur International Airport, Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| 2nd stopover | Maharana Pratap Airport |
| Last stopover | Aurangabad Airport, Aurangabad, Maharashtra |
| Destination | Sahar Airport, Bombay |
| Occupants | 118 |
| Passengers | 112 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 55 |
| Injuries | 63 |
| Survivors | 63 |
On 26 April 1993, the heavily-laden aircraft started its takeoff roll from Aurangabad Airport's runway 09 in hot and humid temperatures.[1] After lifting off almost at the end of the runway, it impacted a lorry on a highway at the end of the runway. The left main landing gear, left engine bottom cowling, and thrust reverser impacted the left side of the truck at about seven feet above road level.[1] The aircraft then hit high tension electric wires northeast of the runway, and crashed into the ground.
The probable cause of the crash was "Pilots' error in initiating late rotation, and following wrong rotation technique" and "failure of the NAA to regulate the mobile traffic on the highway during the flight hours".[1][2]
There was speculation that the truck was actually on the runway and not outside on the road, but was subsequently clarified in the Lok Sabha.[3]
Statement by the minister of civil aviation and tourism in Lok Sabha on the next day
The House is aware of the tragic accident to Indian Airlines flight IC-491 on 26th April, 1993 at Aurangabad
The aircraft, with 112 passengers and 6 crew members, had just taken off from Aurangabad for Bombay. Before it could gain enough height, its wheel gear hit a high-rise truck, loaded with cotton, passing on the road close to the runway outside the perimeter wall at the eastern end. The landing gear of the aircraft broke off under the impact, and the aircraft swerved to the left. Thereafter, it hit a power transmission line and crashed in the field at a distance of about 7 km. from the airport. The aircraft broke into pieces and caught fire.
While 63 persons, including the pilot, the co-pilot, and 2 other members of the crew have survived, it is a matter for deep regret that 53 passengers and 2 members of the crew lost their lives. Twelve of the surviving passengers, who had sustained injury, were admitted to the local hospital; 3 of them left the hospital after first aid, and the rest are recovering.
I visited the crash site along with senior officials of the Ministry and Indian Airlines and met some of the surviving passengers, including those in the hospital. Chief Minister of Maharashtra had also come over from Bombay, and the State Government took all possible rescue and relief measures.
Special information cells have been set up at Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, Aurangabad and Bombay to provide information to relatives of the passengers. Arrangements have also been made for members of the bereaved families of Bombay, Jaipur and Udaipur to be taken to Aurangabad.
Compensation for loss of life in the accident would be paid at the rate of Rs.5 lakhs for adults and rs.2.5 lakhs for children to the next of kin.
The available information and the situation prima facie do not indicate any sabotage. However, Government have decided to institute a judicial inquiry, which will reveal full facts and circumstances of the unfortunate accident. DGCA has commenced preliminary investigations.
The sorrow we feel on this sad occasion cannot be describe in words. I am sure Hon'ble Members will join me in sharing the grief of the kith and kin of those who lost their precious lives in this unfortunate incident.— THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION AND TOURISM (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD), parliamentofindia.nic.in The Parliament of India's official website
References
- "CIVIL AVIATION AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR 1993" (PDF). dgca.gov.in. Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- "Accident to Indian Airlines B737 aircraft VT-ECQ on April 26, 1993 at Aurangabad" (PDF). dgca.gov.in. Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- "Crash of Indian Airlines Boeing 737 Aircraft near Aurangabad Airport on 26.4.1993". parliamentofindia.nic.in. Retrieved 2 February 2016.