Is the Yeti Airlines plane crash just a coincidence?

KATHMANDU, Jan 17: With the crash of 'ATR-72' plane in Pokhara on Sunday, the number of air accidents of Yeti Airlines in the Nepali sky has reached 14. Just seven months ago, Yeti Group's Tara Air '9N AET TwinOtter' plane crashed.

Yeti Airlines was established 24 years ago in May 1998. The airline is operating 35 aircraft in the Nepali sky, 14 of which have been involved in accidents. As many as 166 people have lost their lives and two are missing along with 70 deaths in Sunday's accident.

Seven out of 14 plane crashes of this airline have resulted in human casualties. On May 25, 2004, an accident in Solukhumbu caused the first human casualty, in which three people died. Then on 12 June 2006, nine people died in an accident at Jumla Airport. Similarly, 18 people died in an accident at Lukla Airport on 8 October 2008, 22 people died in a Tara Air plane crash in Okhaldhunga on 15 December 2010, 23 people died in a Tara Air plane crash in Myagdi on 24 February 2016, and a Tara Air plane Mustang crashed on 29 May 2022 in which 22 people died.

Therefore, a question has been raised about the crash of the aircraft of the Yeti group. “Accidents are accidents in themselves. In some cases, it can only be considered a coincidence, however, why is the plane of the same company repeatedly crashing? It cannot be taken for granted," says senior pilot Captain Kumar Pandey, "The companies themselves and the regulatory bodies of the government have to review it ruthlessly."

On the other hand, the spokesperson for Yeti Airlines, Sudarshan Bartaula said that the company conducts a review after every accident. He said, "Based on the report of the commission of inquiry, we have been improving our services.” Bartaula argues that attention should also be paid to the fact that the company is flying in remote and dangerous places. "We provide services in the Himalayan region with adverse conditions by small aircraft which is risky in itself. Accidents also often happen in remote areas. It is only this time that happened in an urban area," he said.

Doubts on investigation

The next day after the accident of the Yeti Group's Tara Air plane Mustang on May 29, 2022 the Council of Ministers formed a five-member commission of inquiry under the leadership of senior aeronautical engineer Ratish Chandra Lal Suman to find out the truth about the accident. The members of the commission were Captain Deepuraj Jwarchan, Senior Maintenance Engineer Upendra Lal Shrestha, Senior Meteorologist Mani Ratna Shakya and Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation as Member Secretary.

The commission was given a period of 100 days. However, even after seven months, a report has not been submitted. CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula also confirmed the matter. "It seems that it will take time to study more about the incident," he said, "The relevant commission will know how much progress has been made."

Even after Sunday's accident, the emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers has formed a commission under the coordination of former secretary Nagendra Ghimire, including retired Nepali Army Captain Deepak Prakash Bastola, another retired Captain Sunil Thapa, aircraft maintenance engineer Ekraj Jung Thapa. Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, the joint secretary in the previous commission, is the member secretary.

When there is an accident in the Nepali sky, an investigation commission is formed after every accident. A detailed study is entrusted to the commission. However, the commission's work, report and suggestions have not been implemented.

When the report is not implemented, it is alleged that the commission was formed only to suppress the immediate voice. "Commissions are formed every time. What report do these commissions bring? What suggestions do they give on air safety? How many were implemented? There is not any data or detail regarding it," said Captain Pandey, who has been in the air service for 25 years. "When there is an accident, there is only news that a commission has been formed. After that, the commission itself becomes lost as if nothing happened.”

According to an expert in the aviation sector, the committee that is formed after the accident is the one that is manipulated. Instead of bringing out the truth, they cover up the shortcomings of the air service companies and CAAN and blame the dead pilot or the weather for the accident.

Meanwhile, after the ATR-72 plane crash of Yeti Airlines, CAAN conducted a detailed technical test of all ATR planes flying in Nepal on Monday. According to the authority, no problem was found in any of the ATR aircraft flying in Nepal.