-KATHMANDU
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAA Nepal) has released Altitude Air for normal operation on September 23 after the temporarily flight suspension following a catastrophic accident of ‘9N-ALS’ H125 Helicopter at dense SatyaDevi Area forest, of Dhading district at 5500 feet.
According to the source, the CAA Nepal had made a decision after the complete audit of the entire department of the airline and had released for the normal operation. The airline after the release on September 23, 2018 operated its first resuming flight to Lukla.
This accident has alarmed authorities on taking initiatives for preventing such incidents. So, CAAN had issued a temporary suspension order to Altitude Air effective until an investigation conclusion by the authorities.
Sr. Captain Nischal K.C., Japanese national Hiromi Komatsu (68), Nepali citizens namely Dilli Bahadur Gurung (40), Hira Sherpa of (37), Chowang Sherpa (22) and Sunil Tamang (22) has been killed in the tragedy. But, the only survivor of the crash Lho Ani Dolma Diki was rescued and is currently having her normal breaths at Medicity Hospital.
The three-member team led by Joint Secretary of MoCTCA Mr. Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Senior Captain Siddhartha Jung Gurung from Simrik Air, Chief Engineer Meghendra Kumar Shrestha of Summit Air according to the statement released by Ministry. The investigation will be framed and put into the action as per the reference derived from ICAO Annex-13 Accident Investigation and under the supervision of Civil Aviation Regulation (Accident Investigation) 2071 Chapter (10).
In 2016, seven people were killed in a ‘9N-ALA’ AS 350 helicopter crash 22 kilometers (14 miles) north of the capital. There were multiple helicopter accidents, claiming over a dozen lives, in the wake of a powerful 2015 earthquake when choppers were used to rescue the injured and deliver aid to communities cut off by the disaster. This shows that operations continue to be conducted in violation of the norms for VFR flights, that too in adverse weather conditions.
Nepal has a booming private helicopter industry, flying tourists and goods to remote corners of the Himalayan nation where road access is limited or non-existent.
The European Union banned all Nepalese airlines following international alarm over the country’s air safety record.
