Lawmakers have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), accusing it of severe negligence in the country’s aviation safety.
During a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives, lawmakers highlighted the increasing frequency of plane crashes, noting the recent accident involving a Saurya Airlines aircraft. They emphasized that such incidents, which affect the nation’s reputation, should not be ignored by the authority’s leadership and stakeholders.
The committee discussed accountability for the recent and past plane crashes, questioning who would take responsibility for the human casualties. Lawmakers criticized the trend of forming investigation committees after each crash, only for their reports to remain unimplemented. They called for impartial investigations and strict legal action against those found guilty.
The effective operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport also drew attention, with lawmakers urging the government to focus on these issues.
MP Udayashamsher Rana asserted that the CAAN leadership must take responsibility for the accidents. Citing the deaths of over a hundred people in various plane crashes since the appointment of Director General Pradip Adhikari, he demanded that those responsible for the negligence be brought to justice.
Lawmakers voiced their concerns about the government’s lack of seriousness towards implementing investigation reports, pointing out that regulatory authority and Nepal Airlines Corporation often blame each other, undermining aviation safety. Rana emphasized that aviation safety cannot be strengthened without distinct regulatory measures and that the findings of investigation commissions must be acted upon.
MP Shishir Khanal stressed the increasing complexity of aviation safety issues and the need for legal accountability for responsible entities. Highlighting seven crashes and 218 deaths in two and a half years under the current CAAN leadership, he called for moral and operational responsibility. “Studies show problems within the Air Safety Agency and leadership. Moral responsibility must be taken for repeated crashes and fatalities,” Khanal said.
MP Sudan Kirati advocated for progressing the bill to divide the CAAN to improve the overall aviation safety system. MP Eknath Dhakal questioned who was responsible for the unsafe state of the country’s aviation sector.
MP Hariprasad Upreti emphasized the need for collective attention towards enhancing aviation safety. Dr. Dhawalshamsher Rana underscored the importance of finalizing the CAAN division bill within a set timeframe.
MP Hit Bahadur Tamang highlighted the need for effective management of international airports. MP Bhim Prasad Acharya pointed out the necessity for concerned authorities to focus on improving Nepal Airlines Corporation.
MP Bimalendra Nidhi urged proactive efforts to remove Nepal from the European Union’s (EU) safety list. He stressed the need for related agencies to create an environment for Nepal Airlines to fly to Korea and demanded immediate progress on the CAAN division bill.
Committee Chairman Rajkishor Yadav noted the recurring plane crashes as serious safety lapses, calling for the CAAN’s attention. He criticized the regulatory body’s tendency to attribute accidents to technical issues, stating that such negligence was detrimental to aviation safety.
Director General Pradip Adhikari of CAAN responded that an investigation commission had been formed regarding the plane crashes, and no comments could be made on the causes until the commission’s report was available.
