Nepal plane crash still a mystery, probe team reprimanded

Kathmandu, March 21: The commission instituted to investigate the March 12 incident of the US-Bangla plane crash has come under scanner for its inability to issue an official statement even a week after the crash took place.

International Civil Aviation Organisation’s norms on aircraft accidents referred to as allows the state of aircraft operator to participate in the investigation process apart from the aircraft and engine manufacturers.

According to The Himalayan Times, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, aviation expert from Bangladesh Capt Salahuddin M Rahmatullah is now in Kathmandu to inquire about progress in the investigation process. Earlier, Salahuddin himself offered his expertise to Nepali safety inspectors on flight operations for many years.

The members of the commission, however, refused to comment.

It is still a mystery why the pilot of the US-Bangla airlines aircraft chose north-side of the runway to land at Kathmandu airport which led to a crash on March 12, the TIA general manager said.

Everything was favorable on that day to land from the south-side of the runway, General Manager of TIA Rajkumar Chhetri said. He said 90 percent of the planes land from the south-side at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

At least 51 people were killed as the US-Bangla Airlines aircraft crashed and burst into flames while landing at the Kathmandu airport in Nepal on March 12. Twenty-eight Bangladeshis, 22 Nepalis, and one Chinese citizen were killed in the deadly crash.