KATHMANDU, Jan 16: Air disaster has become a recurring problem in Nepal Poor and unpredictable weather coupled with human errors and technical faults are leading causes of air disaster in Nepal along with poor aviation safety measures. 

The first international air crash in Nepal took place at Simara in Bara district in 1955, when two people lost their lives in a Kaliga Air plane crash. Similarly, in 1956 and 1958, two planes of Indian Airlines crashed in Nepal killing a total of 34 passengers.

Similarly, in 1992, a Thai Air plane crashed, killing 113 people. In 1992, a Pakistan Airlines plane crashed killing 157 people on board.

In 1990, a Lufthansa Air plane crashed and five people died. In 2014, there were no human casualties in the Turkish Air plane crash during landing. It is necessary for the concerned parties to pay special attention to find the specific cause of such frequent air accidents to prevent future disasters.

In April 2019, at least three people died when a Summit Air plane rammed into a helicopter near the runway at Solukhumbu's Lukla Airport. Similarly, in February 2019, an Air Dynasty helicopter crashed near Pathibhara in Taplejung, killing seven people, including the then Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari.

In September 2018, a Japanese tourist and five other people died when an Altitude Air helicopter coming from Gorkha to Kathmandu crashed in a forest between Dhading and Nuwakot. In March 2018, a US Bangla Airlines flight from Bangladesh to Nepal crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport, killing 51 people.

Similarly, on May 29, 22 people were killed in an accident involving a Twin Otter plane of Tara Air, a sister organization of Yeti Airlines, in Mustang.

If we look at the history of air accidents in Nepal, six dozen aircraft have crashed so far. On June 9, 1991, a plane of Nepal Airlines Corporation met with an accident. Fourteen people, including three crew members, died when the plane, which was flying from Kathmandu to Lukla, crashed. 
 

In 16 plane and helicopter crashes that took place since 2006, a total of 319 passengers were killed.

January 2023: A Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed in Pokhara, 68 confirmed to have died.   

May 2022: A Tara Airplane with 22 people on board crashed in mountainous Mustang district.

April 2019: A Summit Air airplane crashed in Lukla Airport and three people died

February 2019: An Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in Taplejung, killing Nepal’s Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari along with six others. 

September 2018: Six people were killed in Altitude Air helicopter crash at the border of Dhading and Nuwakot

March 2018: 51 people were killed on 12 March 2018 when a US-Bangla airline carrying 67 passengers and four crew members crashed at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International airport.

February 2016: An Air Kasthamandap aircraft with 11 people on board crashed in Kalikot district of Nepal.

May 2015: A US Marine Corps squadron crashed in the Charikot region killing 13 people.

February 2014: 18 people were killed when Nepal Airlines Corporation plane crashed in Arghakhachi

September 2012: Sita Air aircraft crashed near Tribhuvan International Airport killing 19 people, while taking off for Lukla from Kathmandu

May 2012:  An Agni Air plane with 19 people on board crashed while flying from Pokhara Airport to Jomsom Airport.

September 2011: A Beechcraft 1900D operated by Buddha Air that was carrying tourists on a sightseeing trip around Mount Everest, collided with a hill. All 14 people on board died.

December 2010: An aircraft of Tara Air en route Lamidada-Kathmandu crashed in Okhaldhunga, killing 22 people

August 2010: An aircraft of Agni Air took off for Lukla from Kathmandu crashed and 14 people died.

October 2008: 18 people killed in a plane crash of Yeti Airlines while landing at Lukla Airport

September 2006: A Shree Air helicopter crashed on a chartered flight in Eastern Nepal killing all the 24 passengers on board including the crew members. 

 
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