Air India Flight 855 facts for kids

Air India Flight 855 was a passenger flight from Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in India to Dubai. On January 1, 1978, the Boeing 747 airplane crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after taking off. All 213 people on board, including passengers and crew, sadly died in the accident. Investigations later showed that the crash was caused by a mistake made by the pilots.

What Happened to Air India Flight 855?

Air India Flight 855 was a regular flight operated by a large Boeing 747 airplane. On New Year's Day, 1978, the plane took off from Mumbai's airport. It was heading towards Dubai. However, just a few minutes after leaving the ground, the plane crashed into the Arabian Sea. This tragic event happened very close to the coast of Mumbai.

Why Did the Plane Crash?

After a detailed investigation, experts found that the main reason for the crash was a mistake by the pilots. One of the flight instruments, which helps pilots understand the plane's position, stopped working correctly. This instrument is called an attitude indicator. It shows if the plane is flying straight and level, or if it's tilting up, down, or to the side.

When the instrument failed, the pilots became confused about the plane's position. They thought the plane was turning in one direction, but it was actually turning in the opposite direction. Because of this misunderstanding, they made incorrect adjustments to the controls. This caused the plane to lose height very quickly and crash into the sea.

The Investigation and Findings

Investigators carefully studied the wreckage of the plane and the flight recorders. These recorders, often called "black boxes," record conversations in the cockpit and the plane's flight data. They found that the pilots did not fully trust the readings from their instruments. They also did not follow the correct procedures for dealing with an instrument failure. This combination of a faulty instrument and pilot error led to the terrible accident.

This crash was a very sad event in aviation history. It led to important changes in how pilots are trained, especially in how they handle instrument failures and how they work together as a team in the cockpit.

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In Spanish: Vuelo 855 de Air India para niños