was a flight operating from
Mumbai to
Ahemadabad that crashed on its final approach to Ahmedabad airport, killing 130 people (including all 6 crew members).
The flight was cleared for a visual approach into a foggy Ahmedabad, when it struck trees and an high-tension pylon at a distance of 5 km from Runway 23, before crashing into a field and bursting into flames. http://www.b737.org.uk/accident_reports.htm It is noteworthy that the Ahmedabad airport is notorious for the presence of unlighted objects in the landing path. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990412/ibu12075.html
It was subsequently proved in the Ahmedabad Civil court that the navigational aids at Ahmedabad airport were not functioning accurately and that the ATC failed to ensure that the latest weather information was communicated to the aircraft before the accident occurred. See under "Press Releases 2004" at http://www.cercindia.org/
In 1989, Indian Airlines had initially offered to pay Rs. 2 lakhs as full and final settlement to the relatives of each of the victims. However, this was successfully challenged in the Ahmedabad City Civil court and higher amounts were awarded by the court on a case-by-case basis, including factors such as age of the deceased, income, occupation, future prospects and life expectancy.
