What happened
On the early morning of the incident, a cargo flight departed from Asansol-Burnpur Airport at 04:20 local time, bound for Bagdogra. While the aircraft was navigating its route, it encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. Approximately 48 km southwest of its destination, the aircraft type was flying at a low altitude when it encountered intense turbulence.
During this period of instability, the plane became uncontrollable and descended into a prairie. The impact resulted in the deaths of all three crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the aircraft was operating under extremely severe weather conditions at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet, potentially only a few hundred feet above the ground. The primary factor in the crash was a powerful downdraught that forced the heavily loaded plane toward the terrain, making it impossible to maintain flight.