Editorial: Air safety woes

The loss of 18 lives in the Saurya Airlines crash in Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday has once again thrust Nepal’s aviation safety record into the spotlight. This incident, which occurred at the country’s primary international gateway equipped with modern safety and navigation infrastructure, has raised serious questions about the state of air safety in Nepal. 

This is the fifth accident within the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) premises so far, with four of these incidents resulting in fatalities. Fifty-one passengers died when a Bombardier Q400 aircraft of the US-Bangla Airlines crashed while landing in TIA in 2018. Frequent air accidents have hampered Nepal’s efforts to remove itself from the European Union’s Air Safety List, which prevents Nepali carriers from flying into European airspace. 

Experts blame a dual role on the part of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) as both regulator and service provider for the safety lapses. This conflict of interest has long been identified as a major obstacle to effective oversight and enforcement of safety standards. The European Union (EU) has cited it as one of the factors contributing to Nepal’s inclusion in its blacklist. The bill to separate these functions of CAAN has been pending in the Parliament for years, despite an urgent need to pass this crucial legislation and remove the country from the list. Nepal can establish a more robust, independent oversight mechanism by creating separate entities for regulation and airport operation. This would enable the regulatory body to focus solely on enforcing safety standards without conflicting pressures of airport management and commercial considerations.

Legal reforms alone won’t guarantee a safer sky, though. Strict implementation of recommendations by crash study commissions, regular audits of airlines and airports, and continuous training and capacity building for aviation personnel are equally important for ensuring safe skies. Inquiry commissions are formed after every air accident. However, recommendations made in the report of these commissions are not implemented. Moreover, there is a need to deploy cutting-edge technology and modern infrastructure at airports, especially outside the Kathmandu valley, given Nepal’s challenging topography and adverse weather conditions. Upgrading navigation systems, improving runway conditions and enhancing emergency response capabilities are also important to mitigate the risks of flying in Nepal.

Aviation is not just a mode of transport, but an important component of the Nepali economy. A safe and reliable air transport is crucial for the Nepali tourism industry, an important source of foreign exchange for the country. Safety lapses not only risk lives but also jeopardize Nepal's economic future.