What happened
During a nighttime cruise at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft encountered terrain while flying over a dense wooded area. The right wing made contact with trees, causing the plane to crash into the forest below. Due to the remote and heavily vegetated nature of the site, the wreckage was not located until one month after the incident occurred. All 44 occupants aboard the aircraft lost their lives in the accident.
Findings
Investigations indicated that the pilot deviated from the assigned airway, opting instead for a direct route between Karachi and Dibrugarh. The combination of nighttime conditions and low visibility prevented the crew from identifying mountains and other natural obstacles ahead. Consequently, the event was classified as a controlled flight into terrain.