Up in the air

How many more planes must come down before we in Nepal start taking air safety seriously?

Whenever one boards an aircraft in Nepal, there is always that doubt at the back of the mind. Our skies here are far from safe. After all, as of July last year, 914 people have died in 105 different air accidents in Nepal. Between December 1989 and January 2024, when 52 planes came down, Nepal ranked 33rd among 207 countries for air crashes. In the past three years alone, Nepal has seen eight deadly air disasters. Separately, 92 people have been killed in 40 helicopter crashes in the past 63 years. As a result, a recent high-level government committee report published on the Civil Aviation Ministry’s website has listed Nepal among the “most dangerous countries for air travel” in international safety assessments. Nepal’s airports have failed to meet safety guidelines as well as travellers’ expectations. The need for reform is urgent.