RSS Chief Recalls 1996 Charkhi Dadri Crash, the World's Deadliest Mid-Air Collision

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday recalled the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, one of the deadliest aviation accidents in history, and the relief work carried out by the organisation's volunteers after the tragedy.

Speaking at the 'One World One Humanity' event in New York, Bhagwat noted that most of the passengers killed in the crash were Muslims. He said RSS volunteers reached the crash site and helped with relief efforts without any consideration of the victims' religion. "We never thought at that time that these were Muslims," he added.

Bhagwat attributed the RSS's ability to help to its apolitical nature, stating that the organisation does not publicise such work because it expects nothing in return.

The collision occurred on November 12, 1996, over the village of Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, about 100 km west of Delhi. A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747, Flight 763, travelling from Jeddah to Delhi with 312 people on board, collided head-on with a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76, Flight 1907, which was departing Delhi for Chimkent with 37 people. All 349 people on board both aircraft were killed.

The Kazakhstan Airlines aircraft was assigned an altitude of 15,000 feet but descended below that level. At around 14,000 feet, the two aircraft crossed paths and collided. Investigators found that communication issues were a major factor, as the Kazakh crew had limited English proficiency and a radio operator relayed some communications with air traffic control. Confusion over altitude instructions led to the Kazakh aircraft's continued descent into the path of the Saudi plane.