View source for 1968 Indian Air Force An-12 crash

{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name            = Indian Air Force Flight 203
| image           = BL727_Antonov_An.12_Indian_Air_Force_(8448371506).jpg
| image_upright   = 1.1591
| caption         = An Indian Air Force [[Antonov An-12]], similar to the missing aircraft.
| alt             = 
| date            = {{start date|1968|02|07|df=y}}
| summary         = Missing from 1968 till discovery of mortal remains of one of the victims in 2003<br> Crashed<ref name="AS-1">[https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19680207-1 AN-12 Accident description] Aviation Safety Network 31 October 2017</ref>
| occurrence_type = Occurrence
| site            = Dhaka Glacier,  India
| origin          = [[Chandigarh International Airport]], [[Chandigarh]]<ref name="AS-1" />
| destination     = [[Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport|Leh Airport]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<ref name="AS-1" />
| passengers      = 98
| crew            = 4
| fatalities      = 102 <ref name="AS-1" />
| survivors       = 0
| missing         = 98,  4 remains recovered<ref name="N181">[http://www.news18.com/news/india/1968-iaf-transport-aircraft-crash-mortal-remains-of-victim-recovered-635779.html 1968 IAF transport aircraft crash: Mortal remains of victim recovered] News 18 31 October 2017</ref>
| aircraft_type   = [[Antonov An-12]]
| operator        = [[Indian Air Force]]
| tail_number     = BL534
}}

On 7 February 1968, an Antonov An-12 Four engine turboprop transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force piloted by Flight Lieutenant Harkewal Singh and Squadron Leader Pran Nath Malhotra,<ref name="WB1">[http://www.warbirdsofindia.com/news/264-missing-an-12-mystery-solved-after-33-years.html Missing An-12 Mystery Solved after 33 Years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015104/http://www.warbirdsofindia.com/news/264-missing-an-12-mystery-solved-after-33-years.html |date=2017-11-07 }} War Birds of India 1 September 2003</ref><ref name="BR1">[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/5604 Flight Lieutenant Harkewal Singh] Bharat-Rakshak.com 3 October 2018</ref><ref name="BR2">[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/5098 Squadron Leader Pran Nath Malhotra] Bharat-Rakshak.com 3 October 2018</ref> disappeared while flying to Leh Airport from Chandigarh.<ref name="N181" /> Flight 203 was on approach to Leh when the pilot decided to turn back due to inclement weather,<ref name="AS-1" /> the aircraft then went missing with the last radio contact over the [[Rohtang pass]]. It was declared missing after the failure to find the wreck.

==Recovery==
In 2003 members of the [[Himalayan Mountaineering Institute]] who were trekking on the South Dakka Glacier came across the remains of a human body.<ref name="N181" /><ref name="WB1"/> The body was identified as [[Sepoy]] Beli Ram, a soldier of the [[Indian Army]] who was on the flight.<ref name="Tribune1" >[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030806/main9.htm A wish realised after 35 years] The Tribune August 5 2003</ref> 

On 9 August 2007 an Indian Army expedition code named Operation Punaruthan-III,<ref name="Telegraph1">[https://www.telegraphindia.com/1070811/asp/nation/story_8178917.asp Frozen IAF mystery melts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011223/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1070811/asp/nation/story_8178917.asp |date=2017-11-07 }} The Telegraph 10 August 2007</ref> recovered three more bodies.<ref name="Sify1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20171107044318/http://www.sify.com/news/id-card-may-reveal-mystery-of-crashed-an-12-aircraft-news-national-mibm4fdghjcsi.html ID-card may reveal mystery of crashed AN-12 aircraft] Sify News 1 August 2012</ref> 

From 2003 till 2009 three search expeditions have been carried out with the recovery of four bodies.<ref name="N181" /> The crash location lies at a height of about {{height|ft=18000}}, at a gradient of 80 degrees.

On 21 July 2018 the Times of India reported that a mountaineering team at the Chandrabhaga-13 peak had found a body at the Dhaka glacier base camp.<ref name="TOI20180721">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65076095.cms Climbers find body of soldier killed in 1968 plane crash ] Times of India 21 July 2018</ref> The team found wreckage of the plane along with the remains of a soldier on 11 July 2018.<ref name="TOI20180721"/><ref name="Hindu20180721">[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mountaineering-team-stumbles-upon-50-yr-old-wreckage-of-iaf-plane/article24483005.ece/amp/ Mountaineering team stumbles upon 50-yr-old wreckage of IAF plane] The Hindu 21 July 2018</ref> The team leader mentioned that the expedition was on a mission to clear up the trash left behind by climbers, and that it was organised by the [[Indian Mountaineering Foundation]] and the [[ONGC]].<ref name="Hindu20180721"/>

On 18 August 2019, after 13 days of search and recovery operation, a joint team of Indian army and Indian air force recovered several parts of the aircraft like the aero engine, fuselage, electric circuits, propeller, fuel tank unit, air brake assembly and a cockpit door.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-aircraft-parts-recovered-51-years-after-crash/articleshow/70724892.cms|title=IAF aircraft parts recovered 51 years after crash|date=2019-08-18}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of missing aircraft]]
* [[1986 Indian Air Force An-32 disappearance]]
* [[2016 Indian Air Force An-32 disappearance]]
* [[1963 Poonch Indian Air Force helicopter crash]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1968}}
{{coord missing|India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Air Force An-12 crash, 1968}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Accidents and incidents involving the Antonov An-12, Aviation accidents and incidents in 1968, Aviation accidents and incidents in India, 1968 in India, Accidents and incidents involving military aircraft
|description=
}}

[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Antonov An-12]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1968]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India]]
[[Category:1968 in India]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving military aircraft]]