Date:	Wednesday 14 June 1972
Time:	20:18
Type:	Douglas DC-8-53
Owner/operator:	Japan Air Lines - JAL
Registration:	JA8012
MSN:	45680/213
Year of manufacture:	1964
Engine model:	P&W JT3D-
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 82 / Occupants: 87
Other fatalities:	4
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	ca 20 km E of Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL) -   India
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK/VTBD)
Destination airport:	Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL/VIDP)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Japan Air Lines flight JL471, a Douglas DC-8-50, crashed while on approach to Delhi-Palam Airport, India, killing 82 occupants; 5 survived the accident. and 4 persons on the ground

The DC-8 took off from Bangkok at 11:21 UTC on a flight to Delhi, India. Clearance for a straight-in ILS approach to Delhi runway 28 was given at 14:43 UTC. Shortly after reporting 23DME, the aircraft struck the banks of River Yamuna.
The first officer was Pilot Flying during the approach to Delhi.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Japanese investigators claimed a false glide path signal to be responsible for the descent into terrain. Indian investigators say the accident was caused by a total disregard of laid down procedures by the crew and abandoning all instrument indications without properly ensuring sighting of the runway.

Civil aircraft accidents 1972 / Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, CAD, ASD

photo (c) Caz Caswell; London-Heathrow Airport (LHR); 1970

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
28-Mar-2025 06:45	ASN	Updated [Narrative, ]