Accident Overview
In the evening, a formation of nine Antonov AN-32 aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force departed Chandigarh Airport for a training mission. While conducting night cruising flight, the third aircraft in the formation (n°3) lost positional awareness and mistook the first aircraft for the second aircraft. The crew of n°3 elected to maneuver to regain its position in the formation.
Collision
During the repositioning maneuver, the Antonov AN-32 registered K2669 collided with another AN-32 registered K3055, which was positioned to its right at the time of the accident. The impact occurred at night over the vicinity of Boothgarh. Following the collision, both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and subsequently crashed in a wheatfield near Boothgarh.
Crew and Damage
Both aircraft were destroyed by the impact and ensuing crash. All eight crew members—four crew in each aircraft—were killed in the accident.