Amritsar – Srinagar

On June 3, 1963 at 11:30 AM, Amritsar – Srinagar experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Indian Airlines, with the event recorded near Pathankot Punjab.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

29 people were known to be on board, 29 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 25, passenger fatalities: 25, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Amritsar to Srinagar. It took off at 1115LT with 29 persons on board and 7 minutes later it reported its position 25 miles from Amritsar. No further communication was received from the aircraft. Shortly after 1200 hours a report was received by telephone at Amritsar, stating that the aircraft had crashed in a field near the Sarna railway station, about five miles west from Pathankot. The crash took place at a point where the aircraft had to make a left turn of 70° to proceed on its normal course to Srinagar. Eyewitness evidence indicates that the aircraft made a left turn, went out of control and lost height rapidly. It then attained a climbing attitude, broke up and crashed to the ground, catching fire on impact. All 29 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VT-AUL, MSN 20265, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.3022°, 75.6589°.