Bangladeshi aviation minister, officials arrive

Published On: March 14, 2018 04:30 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

AKM Shahjahan Kamal

KATHMANDU, March 14: While the Tribhuvan International Airport officials and aviation authorities of Bangladesh trade blame for Monday's US-Bangla plane crash, a high-level Bangladeshi team led by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal has arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Officials of Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu informed the minister is accompanying with senior aviation officials and the team is expected to consult with the Nepalese counterpart. The Bangladeshi team includes N Mustafizur Rahman, Operation, Plannning and Civil Aviation Wing Commander; M Ziaul Kabir, Civil Aviation Wing Commander; Mohammad Mahbubur Rahaman, Public Relation Officer at Civil Aviation and a Flight Safety and Regulation; and the director of the aviation ministry, whose name could not be ascertained, according to the Bangladeshi embassy.

According to Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star, the team arrived here to gather information on the latest situation following the crash and hold consultations with Nepali aviation officials.

A leaked conversation audio between TIA Air Traffic Control (ATC) and US-Bangla Flight 211 shows confusions over choosing runway while landing at the airport. TIA ATC and the airline company have been blaming each other for the accident. Airport authorities have accused the pilot of choosing the wrong runway while the Bangladeshi aviation officials believe the accident happened due to confusion created by the air traffic controllers.

The audio indicates a possible confusion in the mind of the pilot about the Runway 02 (the southern end) and Runway 20 (the northern end). Even as the Bombardier aircraft is on approach, the Nepali pilots of other aircraft are heard warning the ATC that the US-Bangla pilot seems disoriented and that he should be assisted by radar and taken out of harm's way.

Amid the confusion the pilot had tried to land the plane from Runway 20 but it crashed near the runway killing 49 people. Twenty two are receiving treatment at local hospitals. The government has formed a six member probe panel led by former civil aviation secretary Yagya Prasad Gautam. Officials said it will take around a month for the panel to come up with its report.