Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision – CVR Transcript

Date: November 12, 1996

Aircraft: Saudia Boeing 747-168B (HZ-AIH) & Kazakhstan Ilyushin Il-76TD (UN-76435)

Operator: Saudia & Kazakhstan Airlines

Fatalities: 349 (all onboard both aircraft)

Cause: Kazakh aircraft descended below assigned altitude; miscommunication and lack of situational awareness

00:00 [ATC to KAZAKH 1907] ATC: Saudi 763, maintain 140.  
00:02 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] Unknown: (Unintelligible).  
00:04 [ATC to KAZAKH 1907] ATC: Kazakh 1907, report radial VOR distance from Delta Papa November.  
00:09 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] R.O: Uhh… Kazakh 1907, now reach 150, 46 miles from Delta Papa November, radial 270.  
00:17 [ATC to KAZAKH 1907] ATC: Roger, maintain flight level 150, identified traffic 12 o’clock reciprocal…  
00:23 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] Unknown: (Unintelligible).  
00:24 [ATC to KAZAKH 1907] ATC: …Saudi Boeing 747…  
00:27 [ATC to KAZAKH 1907] ATC: …At 10 miles, likely to cross you in another 5 miles, report if in sight.  
00:33 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] Unknown: (Unintelligible) / (Unknown Alarm)  
00:34 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] R.O: Uhh… Continue 150, Kazakhstan 1907.  
00:38 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] R.O: I will report, uhh… How many miles?  
00:41 [ATC to KAZAKH 1907] ATC: At 8 miles now.  
00:44 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] R.O: Keep the 150, do not descend!  
00:46 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] Cpt: Acceleration!  
00:47 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] (Unknown Alarm; TCAS?)  
00:48 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] Unknown: A radar in the cockpit, and a … (Unintelligible) … Mobilize to 110.  
00:48 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] (Sound of engines power increase) / R.O: Get to the 150! Because it’s at the 140!  
00:51 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] R.O: Saudi flight!!  
00:52 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] (COLLIDING WITH OTHER AIRCRAFT)  
00:52 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] (COLLIDING WITH OTHER AIRCRAFT) / (Fire Alarm)  
00:54 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] Fire Alarm: “Fire!” (plays until end of recording)  
00:54 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] (Fire Alarm)  
00:55 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] Morse Code: . .–. / ––.– / ––. / . . . . / .––. / .  (FQZHPE)  
00:56 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] GPWS: (Whoop-Whoop) “Pull up!”  
00:58 [KAZAKH 1907 CAM-1] GPWS: (Whoop-Whoop) / (Sound of explosion)  
00:59 [ATC to SAUDI 763] ATC: …110, do you copy?  
01:01 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] Cpt(?): Astaghfirullah!! (I ask God for forgiveness!!)  
01:02 [SAUDI 763 CAM-1] Cpt(?): Ashadu Alla Illaha Illallah! (I bear witness that there is no God but Allah!)  

((END OF RECORDING))

      

Sources