KATHMANDU, Aug 9: The recent Air Dynasty helicopter crash, which claimed five lives, has sent shockwaves through Nepal's aviation industry.
Among the deceased were four Chinese nationals who were in Nepal exploring business opportunities, according to Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. This tragedy, coupled with recent aviation accidents, has raised serious concerns about the safety of Nepal’s skies and its potential impact on foreign investment.
Minister Gurung said that the Chinese team was not here for sightseeing but to assess investment sectors. "Such incidents can deter foreign investment, indicating that our skies are not safe for international visitors," Gurung said during a press briefing at Singha Durbar on Thursday. The minister emphasized the far-reaching implications of these frequent aviation accidents, which extend beyond tourism and impact international business prospects in Nepal.
The government has responded by forming a probe committee led by Nepali Army’s Senior Pilot Subash Thapa, with Bishnu Basnet and Tanuja Pokharel as members. This commission has been given 30 days to prepare a comprehensive report to identify the causes of the crash and recommend necessary actions.
Crash points again to lapses in air safety
Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey addressed the issue during a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday. He announced plans to form a commission for a comprehensive study of the entire aviation sector, aimed at addressing both structural and policy-related issues.
Acknowledging the severity of crashes in Nepal, minister Pandey said, "We are examining where our laws fall short and why the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has failed to enforce regulations effectively. These frequent crashes are extraordinary events that require immediate policy intervention to ensure the safety and reliability of Nepali skies."
During the parliamentary committee meeting, several MPs demanded accountability from top aviation officials. Nepali Congress MP Rajendra Bajgain, Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Shishir Khanal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party MP Dhawal Shamsher Rana, and Aam Janata Party MP Prabhu Shah called for the resignation of Minister Pandey and CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari. They argued that these officials should take moral responsibility for the recent crashes.
In response to these demands, Minister Pandey said that legal consultations are underway regarding the dismissal of DG Adhikari. "The government is serious about taking action against subordinate agencies. I have taken legal advice to ensure that any decision made will not be overturned by the court," Pandey said. He said that the government will follow the instructions of the parliamentary committee and proceed with the investigation process.
The International Relations and Tourism Committee has also directed a 15-day investigation into the enforcement of air safety standards. Minister Pandey, CAAN's DG Adhikari, and other key officials were called to discuss the recent accidents. The committee emphasized the need for stringent actions against those found negligent in implementing safety protocols.
The investigation has also highlighted delayed response times in dispatching search and rescue helicopters, despite the crash site being less than 15 km in aerial distance from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Despite the helicopter losing contact within three minutes of takeoff, a search and rescue helicopter was dispatched only after 45 minutes after the loss of communication to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) at the TIA. According to aviation norms, a search helicopter should be dispatched within minutes of losing contact.
Forensic examinations of the victims are currently being conducted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. On Wednesday, police recovered five dead bodies from the crash site. The bodies of the victims, including four Chinese nationals—38-year-old Jutad Tang, 36-year-old Jie Li, 41-year-old Zeming Xie, and 31-year-old Yiyad Wu—and captain Arun Malla, 58, were collected from the crash site and sent to TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for post-mortem. Coordination with the Chinese Embassy is ongoing to repatriate the bodies of the Chinese nationals, while Captain Arun Malla’s body will be handed over to his family.
Preliminary investigations by CAAN suggest that the Air Dynasty helicopter crash occurred due to the pilot becoming disoriented in cloudy conditions, violating Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The helicopter was flying at an altitude and speed indicating a possible rush to complete the flight, further complicating the situation.
Wednesday’s chopper crash follows closely on the heels of the Saurya Airlines plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu barely 14 days ago. A total of 18 lives were lost in the crash.
The ill-fated helicopter with the call sign 9N-AJD took off from Kathmandu towards Syafrubesi in Rasuwa. Just three minutes into its flight, the aircraft lost communication with the Kathmandu Air Traffic Control Tower at 1:54 PM. The helicopter crashed into a remote area of Surya Chaur in Shivapuri Rural Municipality-7, igniting a fire that significantly hampered rescue operations.
This string of recent aviation tragedies calls for urgent comprehensive reforms in Nepal's aviation sector.
