Pathankot, 17 July 1950 (Retrospective): In one of the early tragedies in Indian civil aviation, a Douglas DC-3 aircraft crashed near Pathankot, Punjab, on 17 July 1950, resulting in the death of all 22 passengers on board.
The aircraft, widely used at the time for both military and civil aviation, was on a routine flight when it reportedly encountered difficulties that led to the fatal crash. The exact cause of the accident remains part of historical aviation records and served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by early air travel in the country.
The incident deeply shocked the nation and prompted renewed focus on aviation safety standards, navigation systems, and pilot training protocols in the years that followed.
The 1950 Pathankot crash is remembered as a somber moment in India’s aviation history, underscoring the risks borne by the pioneers of commercial flight.
