KATHMANDU — 1992 · Major Tragedy

PIA Flight 268 Crash

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 28 September 1992, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268, an Airbus A300 from Karachi to Kathmandu, flew into mountainous terrain south of the Kathmandu Valley while approaching Tribhuvan International Airport from the south. All 167 people on board were killed. It remains the deadliest accident in PIA's history and the deadliest air crash ever in Nepal. The investigation found that the aircraft had flown one step of the approach procedure's altitude profile too early, putting it lower than it should have been, and struck the southern slope of the Mahabharat Range in overcast conditions; unclear approach charts and the lack of radar also contributed. The crash came 59 days after a Thai Airways aircraft had also crashed near Kathmandu.

Date: 1992
Place: Bhattedanda, Lalitpur, Nepal, Kathmandu, NP
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 27.5300, 85.3600 ↗

Timeline of Events

31 July 1992Thai Airways 311 had crashed north of Kathmandu.
28 September 1992PIA 268 struck the mountains south of the valley.
InvestigationThe aircraft was found to have begun each descent step one step early.

Sources

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