Government serious for bolstering aviation safety, asserts Minister Pandey

KATHMANDU, Aug 08: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has said that the government is serious towards enhancing air safety in Nepal. 

Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives, International Relations and Tourism Committee today, he said the air crashes that have occurred in the Nepali sky in recent period have made the Ministry grave. 

He informed the Committee that he, together with the high officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), inspected the crash site today and it is presumed that the Air Dynasty's chopper crashed at Suryachaur of Nuwakot while trying to return to Kathmandu due to bad weather. 

Stating that the government formed a three-member investigation commission under the convenorship of Nepali Army's senior captain Subas Thapa on Wednesday itself to find out the truth and facts of the accident, the Civil Aviation Minister expressed the conviction that the commission will bring out the truth behind the cause of the crash.

He informed that preparations are afoot to develop an action plan for resolving the problems of the entire aviation sector. According to Minister Pandey, short-term, medium-term and long-term ways would be sought to ensure air safety.

CAAN Director General Pradip Adhikari informed the meeting that preliminary estimate is that the chopper crashed due to bad weather.