The mid-air collision near Delhi, known as the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, occurred on November 12, 1996. It involved a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76. The collision happened in Indian airspace, near the village of Charkhi Dadri, about 100 kilometers west of Delhi.
The Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 was en route from Delhi to Dhahran, while the Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 was descending into Delhi. The collision resulted from a miscommunication and lack of situational awareness, causing the two aircraft to be on a collision course.
All 349 passengers and crew on both flights perished, making it the world's deadliest mid-air collision. The tragedy underscored the critical need for improved air traffic control procedures and communication protocols. Subsequently, it led to significant changes in Indian airspace management and the implementation of mandatory TCAS on aircraft to prevent such disasters in the future.
