In a heartbreaking incident, senior pilot Captain Arun Malla of Air Dynasty Helicopter Services lost his life on Wednesday in a helicopter crash. Despite having narrowly escaped death twice in his career, Captain Malla could not evade fate this time.
Captain Malla’s career was marked by remarkable feats of survival. In one notable incident, while piloting a Karnali Air helicopter over the Jumla-Kalikot range, Maoist rebels fired upon his aircraft. Despite the helicopter being struck, he managed to land safely, showcasing his exceptional skill and composure.
In another incident in October 2013, Captain Malla was flying an Air Dynasty helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla when the aircraft collided with a fence at Lukla airport. Miraculously, he and his three passengers survived unscathed.
Tragically, on Wednesday, Captain Malla’s helicopter, en route from Kathmandu to Syafrubesi in Rasuwa, crashed in Suryachaur, Shivapuri Rural Municipality-7, Nuwakot. Along with Captain Malla, four Chinese passengers also perished in the crash.
“Captain Arun was always calm and composed. I never saw him angry or aggressive,” recalled Yograj Kandel, General Secretary of the Helicopter Society of Nepal, who worked alongside Captain Malla for over two decades. “He was a joyful worker, honest, and experienced. Losing him is a tremendous sorrow for us.”
A 58-year-old resident of Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Captain Malla had completed his pilot training in Russia. Upon returning to Nepal, he began his flying career with Karnali Air under the mentorship of Captain Narayan Singh Pun. Following the closure of Karnali Air, he joined Air Dynasty, where he accumulated an estimated 15,000 to 16,000 flying hours.
“Captain Malla strictly adhered to aviation regulations and was admired for his courteous demeanor by colleagues and officials alike,” Kandel added. “He was the epitome of what a pilot should be, and his loss is an irreplaceable blow to the aviation sector.”
An experienced pilot who knew Captain Malla speculated that the crash might have been caused by sudden adverse weather conditions. “Captain Malla had flown the Kathmandu to Syafrubesi route at least a thousand times. He knew every ridge and tall tree by heart,” the pilot explained. “However, the unexpected fog on Wednesday deceived him.”
The Air Dynasty helicopter had taken off from Tribhuvan International Airport at 1:54 PM, and contact with air traffic control was lost three minutes later. Captain Malla encountered thick fog in Suryachaur, which severely impaired visibility and led to the tragic crash.
Helicopters operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), requiring pilots to maintain clear visibility of the ground and sky. The sudden fog left Captain Malla with no time to react, resulting in the fatal accident.
Captain Malla is survived by his wife and two daughters. His tragic end serves as a poignant reminder to his colleagues and the broader aviation community of the inherent risks in their profession.
