Aircraft Crash in the Tatra Mountain Range (OK-WDZ)

Incident Overview and Route Details During a flight from Bratislava to Košice, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Air traffic control subsequently contacted the crew and diverted the aircraft to Poprad. The incident occurred shortly before the aircraft's estimated time of arrival at Poprad. While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 meters in bad weather, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a snow-covered, wooded area within the Tatra Mountain Range. The crash resulted in the deaths of 22 occupants, while four passengers were injured and rescued. ## Official Findings and Contributing Factors The official investigation determined that the crew initiated the descent to Poprad prematurely due to an incorrect altimeter setting. This error caused the aircraft to collide with obstacles and crash. The investigation also identified poor visibility caused by snowfall and heavy winds, which reached speeds of up to 100 km/h, as contributing factors to the accident.