Analyzing Nepal’s Flight Safety Issues: Terrain, Weather, and Technology Challenges
In Short:
Nepal's tough geography and weather make flying risky.
Aging aircraft with outdated tech add to safety issues.
Poor maintenance increase accident risks.
A private aircraft tragically crashed shortly after departing from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The accident claimed the lives of 18 passengers and left the pilot, the sole survivor, with serious injuries. The plane was supposed to fly to Pokhara but deviated from its intended path, resulting in the crash.
Nepal's aviation safety has been under scrutiny due to several contributing factors. The country's mountainous terrain and narrow valleys present significant challenges for pilots. Unpredictable weather, including sudden rain and fog, further complicates flight operations, making landings and takeoffs particularly hazardous.
In January last year, a Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara resulted in the deaths of all 72 passengers, including five Indians, due to human error. Since the first recorded air disaster in 1955, Nepal has seen 914 fatalities in air crashes.
Technological limitations are a major concern. Many planes are old and equipped with outdated systems, and inadequate maintenance exacerbates safety risks. Additionally, Nepal faces a shortage of experienced pilots, leading to less experienced individuals operating flights, which increases the likelihood of accidents.