Saturday, 24 January 2026

Remembering Air India Flight 101

On the 24th of January 1966 an Air lndia Boeing 707 traveling from Beirut International Airport (BEY/OLBA) to Genève-Cointrin Airport (GVA/LSGG) crashed into Mont Blanc in France killing all 117 people on board.

The investigation concluded the pilot-in-command calculated his position in relation to Mont Blanc and reported his own estimate of this position to the controller; the radar controller noted a different position of the aircraft and passed a communication to the pilots which would enable it to change its position.

Then the pilot who, under the mistaken impression that he had passed the ridge leading to the summit continued his descent. At flight level 190 (19,000 feet) the crew were instructed to descend for Geneva International Airport after the aircraft had passed Mont Blanc. The pilot, thinking that he had passed Mont Blanc, started to descend and flew into the Mont Blanc massif in France near the Rocher de la Tournette, at an elevation of 4,750 metres (15,584 feet). All 106 passengers and 11 crew were killed.


The aircraft was named Kanchenjunga, after the third highest mountain in the world.


Aircraft Information: 
Airline: Air India
Code: AI/AIC
Aircraft: Boeing 707-437
Registration: VT-DMN 
Serial Number: 18055/200
Engines: Rolls-Royce Conway 508
First Flew: 5 April 1961
Age: 4.10 Years 

We’re keeping the families and friends in our thoughts as they honor and remember their loved ones today.

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