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Fatal aircraft crash near Pathankot during flight to Srinagar (VT-ATS)

Pathankot, IndiaFlight

On July 17, 1950, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration VT-ATS) operated by Indian National Airways - INA was involved in an aviation accident near Pathankot, India in flight. 22 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Severe turbulence led to a catastrophic structural failure of the left wing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft traveling toward Srinagar crashed in a field near Pathankot, resulting in the deaths of all 22 people on board.

What happened

While performing a flight to Srinagar, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence. During this period of intense atmospheric instability, the left wing of the plane became detached from the fuselage. Following this structural failure, the aircraft lost all stability and entered an uncontrolled descent.

The plane struck the ground in a field situated approximately 10 km southeast of Pathankot. There were no survivors of the impact, with a total of 22 fatalities recorded among the occupants.

Findings

  • The aircraft experienced extreme turbulence during the flight phase.
  • A critical structural failure occurred when the left wing detached from the airframe.

Probable cause

Severe turbulence led to a catastrophic structural failure of the left wing.

Related events

Same operator

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