Ramechhap airport chief suspended

KATHMANDU, Nov 03:Ashok Thapa, the chief of the Manthali Airport in Ramechhap, has been suspended by aviation control authority the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for his decision to grant flying clearance to a quarreling pilot. 

The CAAN has suspended Ramechhap Airport Chief Thapa till further notice, citing the need for a thorough investigation of the incident.

At 8 am on Friday morning, the senior captain Santosh Shah and another captain of the same company, Sanjeev Shrestha, had a fight on the apron of the airport when Tara Air's TwinOtter aircraft landed at Manthali Airport from Lukla.

The incident was verified by airport head Thapa, but the reason for the brawl was not revealed.

Captain Shrestha has reached Lukla with a aircraft. He and the aircraft have been 'grounded' at Lukla airport.