The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has taken decisive action against Yuvraj Adhikari, Chairman of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), suspending him and several key personnel following a serious breach of aviation protocols. The suspension stems from an incident where a wide-body aircraft was dispatched to Italy via Dubai for a C-check without obtaining requisite permissions.
Adhikari, along with Operations Manager and Captain Dipu Jwarchan, Captain Maheshman Dangol, Raman Ghimire, and CAMO Manager Gyan Bahadur Kunwar, have been suspended from their duties with immediate effect. This action comes in response to NAC’s management sending the aircraft for maintenance without completing the necessary procurement processes and without CAAN’s authorization.
Notably, there are no direct flight routes from Nepal to Italy, raising concerns about the legality and safety of such operations. CAAN regulations stipulate that airlines holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) must obtain explicit permission for major checks such as C-checks and comprehensive overhauls. Furthermore, any maintenance facility used must be approved by CAAN, a requirement that was disregarded in this instance.
Gyanendra Bhul, spokesperson for CAAN, underscored the seriousness of the violations: “The failure to adhere to regulatory procedures regarding aircraft maintenance and operation is a direct contravention of the Civil Aviation Act.” Bhul confirmed that an internal committee has been established to investigate the matter thoroughly, with further actions pending the committee’s findings.
