Is Technology too Out-of-Date? (Kazakhstan Airlines 1907 & Saudi Arabian Airlines 763)

Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907

Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763

12 November 1996

It was the end of the year. Every goes on holidays on this term. It was also some people returning to Jeddah like people who got on  Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763. They were just preparing a few things for a flight that started at New Delhi International Airport. It was a good evening, very good for a smooth flight. One of the controllers on duty that time was V.K. Dutta who was responsible for both Kazakhstan Airlines 1907 and Saudi Airlines 763. He was a senior air traffic controller so he is usual in handling so many flights.

"Saudi 763. You are cleared for take off as requested by you, over. Have a good flight. I will guide you from here, over and out" said Dutta during the take off permission. So, there we had a huge Boeing 747 that was on a long journey back to Saudi Arabia. After that, came a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin IL-76 that took off a few minutes before the Saudi jet. So there we go a journey that they will never return from. The Saudi started there first request that was asking to climb to 10,000 feet. "Roger Saudi 763, you're cleared for flight level 100. Please give extra info every few minutes please? We have limited radar at Delhi, over." said the controller to 763. They followed every single instruction given by the air traffic controller. 

At that time, the Kazakh plane was at 23,000 feet and they want to descend further to 15,000 feet. Dutta which was on that time allowed the jet to descend further with one option that was always look for upcoming traffic and always give reports every few minutes. This is just the first part that caused the planes to crash. Then, the controller said to them that he wants reports of their position and height. The Kazakh crew made a report and then followed by the Saudi jet. Not long afterwards, "Saudi Airlines 763 here. Requesting to descend to flight level 140, over" said captain of flight 763. He gave permission and then asked them to hold request of further climbing as they were almost near the Kazakh jet.

He also said to look for the Kazakh plane which was heading to the opposite position they were moving. They followed the order and started looking for the Kazakh jet. Suddenly, an unsual thing happen. BOOOMMMM!!! A collion occured and finally resulting a plane crash. All 346 passengers died on board both jets. How could the planes collide in mid-air??? Well this is how it happened. As further investigations took place,  they found out that the Saudi jet did not keep a steady altitude at 14,000 feet. And the Kazakh crew saw them, but it was too late to do anything that time. 

The only last words recorded in the Saudi cockpit recorder was this, "Ashadualla Illa Ha Illalah Muhammada Rasullah". How golden was these words that were said by the crew before death. After that, all 346 lives, 346 hopes and 346 dreams were destroyed and extinguished in just a few seconds. This made much changes to the aviation indutry in India mostly and caused a major change in aviation history.