Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On 1 January 1978, the Boeing 747 operating the flight crashed into the Arabian Sea about 3 km (1.9 mi; 1.6 nmi) off the coast of Bandra, less than two minutes after take-off, killing all 213 passengers and crew on board. An investigation into the crash determined the most likely probable cause was the captain becoming spatially disoriented and losing control of the aircraft after the failure of one of the flight instruments. It was Air India's deadliest air disaster until the bombing of Flight 182 in 1985 and was the deadliest airliner accident in Indian history until Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in 1996.
Air India Flight 855 crashes into the Arabian Sea less than two minutes after takeoff, killing all 213 people on board
Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Historical Significance
Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Events Before
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc.
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American film director Martin Scorsese (34) divorces Julia Cameron (28) after 1 year of marriage
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Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC
Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC
Events After
International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)
International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)
Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day
Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day
BBC landmark nature series "Life on Earth" presented by David Attenborough first shown on BBC One
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Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years in exile
Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran on 1 February 1979, after 14 years in exile, was an important event in the Iranian Revolution.
Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage
Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage
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death
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
birth
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Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on January 1, 1978?
- Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On 1 January 1978, the Boeing 747 operating the flight crashed into the Arabian Sea about 3 km (1.9 mi; 1.6 nmi) off the coast of Bandra, less than two minutes after take-off, killing all 213 passengers and crew on board. An investigation into the crash determined the most likely probable cause was the captain becoming spatially disoriented and losing control of the aircraft after the failure of one of the flight instruments.
- Why is Air India Flight 855 crashes into the Arabian Sea less than two minutes after... significant?
- Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.