Chandigarh–Kulu-Bhuntar Flight Crash in the Kamrunag Range (VT-EUJ)

Incident Overview A twin-engine aircraft departed Chandigarh Airport at 0850 local time on a flight to Kulu-Bhuntar. The aircraft was carrying eight passengers and three crew members, totaling 11 occupants. Among the passengers were Surendra Nath, Governor of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, and members of his family. ## Crash Location and Conditions During cruise, the crew reported limited visibility caused by cumulus clouds. The aircraft then struck trees and rocks and crashed on a mountain slope in the Kamrunag Mountain Range. The site was located about 18.5 km southeast of Sundar Nagar and roughly 50 km south of Kulu-Bhuntar Airport. The aircraft was destroyed, and all 11 people on board were killed. ## Official Findings The official investigation attributed the accident to serious errors by the flight crew, including failure to strictly adhere to VFR conditions for the flight to Bhuntar Airfield. After encountering cumulus clouds en route, the aircraft deviated from its predetermined route and collided with a cloud-covered hilltop. Contributing factors identified by the investigation included bad en-route weather with layered cumulus clouds covering hilltops, the pilots’ lack of familiarity with the regional mountain topography, failure to consult and follow regional maps, mental pressure on the pilot-in-command to complete the flight on time for subsequent commitments, the copilot’s failure to alert the commander to flight deviations, disregard of procedures, regulations, and instructions by the pilot, and operational decision-making.