Kathmandu, Nepal – July 25, 2024
Nepal’s aviation industry is once again under scrutiny following a tragic plane crash that claimed 18 lives, spotlighting the deep-rooted corruption and mismanagement plaguing the sector. The crash has reignited concerns about the capability of Nepal’s civil aviation authority to oversee safety issues, as global aviation watchdogs have repeatedly raised alarms about the country’s aviation safety standards.
On Wednesday, a Saurya Airlines flight, carrying 17 employees and two crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The aircraft, bound for Pokhara, caught fire upon impact, leaving only the pilot, Manish Ratna Shakya, as the sole survivor. Shakya, currently receiving treatment for injuries, was rescued from the burning wreckage.
Eyewitnesses described a loud explosion as the plane took off, veering in the wrong direction before crashing. “There was a very loud noise, it sounded like maybe a truck had overturned on the road. We saw the crash, and the plane hit the ground and caught fire,” a nearby shopkeeper told AFP.
A Troubled Industry
Nepal’s aviation sector has a dismal safety record, marred by unpredictable weather, rugged terrain, and regulatory lapses. In the past 18 months alone, more than 100 people have lost their lives in plane crashes. The latest incident is the seventh under Pradip Adhikari, the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), and the fourth fatal crash of his tenure.
Multiple factors have contributed to the industry’s woes. Despite calls from international bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to separate the CAAN’s regulatory and service-providing functions, the government has been slow to act. This dual role has been blamed for the lack of stringent safety oversight.
Corruption and policy paralysis further compound the problem. A parliamentary sub-committee once recommended the immediate splitting of the civil aviation body, but successive tourism ministers have failed to implement the necessary reforms. Efforts by former tourism minister Sudan Kirati to push the bills through parliament were stymied by political interference, leaving the legislation in limbo.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
The Saurya Airlines flight was scheduled for a maintenance check in Pokhara. Initial reports suggest that the plane took off incorrectly, turning right instead of left. Footage shows the aircraft tilting before crashing into flames, with large parts of the plane charred and blackened.
Experts suspect various causes, including engine failure, bird strikes, or poor maintenance. The investigation will need to confirm these theories. The crash has also highlighted the CAAN’s regulatory negligence, with passengers reportedly allowed on a ferry flight, a practice against aviation rules.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, visited the crash site, reflecting the national concern over this recurring tragedy. Yet, the future of Nepal’s aviation industry remains uncertain, hampered by financial instability and inadequate regulatory mechanisms.
A Call for Reform
The repeated crashes have deterred foreign tourists, impacting Nepal’s crucial tourism sector. The European Commission’s ban on Nepali airlines flying into the EU, imposed in 2013 after a series of fatal accidents, remains in place. The international community continues to urge Nepal to reform its aviation industry.
With nearly 950 deaths in air crashes since 1955, and over 100 fatalities in the last 18 months, the need for urgent and effective action is clear. The government has formed a five-member commission to investigate the latest crash, but whether this will lead to meaningful change remains to be seen.
For the families of the victims and the aviation professionals risking their lives, the hope is that this tragedy will finally spur the reforms needed to ensure safety in Nepal’s skies.