KATHMANDU, August 8: Four Chinese citizens and a Nepali pilot died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, sparking widespread concern over the safety of Nepal's aviation sector.

The Air Dynasty helicopter, en route from Kathmandu to Syafrubesi in Rasuwa, crashed in Surya Chaur of Shivapuri Rural Municipality, Ward No. 7, Nuwakot district killing all five people on board.

Chief District Officer of Nuwakot, Ramakrishna Adhikari, confirmed that pilot Arun Malla and the four Chinese citizens were killed in the crash. This incident comes just two weeks after the Saurya Airlines plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport on July 25, which claimed the lives of 18 people.

The Chinese nationals who perished in the crash were identified as Tang Chutao, Wu Yiao, Li Chiy, and Si Chamin. The bodies were recovered on Wednesday and transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, for postmortem, according to a press statement released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

Pilot Arun Malla, who had previously survived an air crash in Lukla in October 2013, was piloting the Air Dynasty helicopter when it met with the accident. The helicopter took off from Kathmandu-based airport at 1:54 PM on Wednesday, but lost contact with the tower just three minutes after takeoff. The crash was later confirmed in Surya Chaur. Balkrishna Pandit, a senior manager at Air Dynasty, stated that the purpose of the Chinese passengers' trip to Syafrubesi remains unclear.

Government officials have not yet determined the cause of the accident. CAAN spokesperson Hansraj Pandey stated that the cause will be identified after further investigation. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology had forecast weather changes from normal to severe, with potential for light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could have affected air traffic. The department had issued a warning beforehand for necessary caution and preparedness on August 6.

In March 2023, another Air Dynasty helicopter was involved in an accident while landing at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, though no casualties were reported. The increasing frequency of air accidents in Nepal has raised serious concerns about the country’s air safety standards.

CAAN spokesperson Pandey acknowledged the growing concerns over recent air accidents, despite government documents indicating improvements in air safety. He questioned whether there is a gap between documented improvements and actual practice. The responsibility for safety lies heavily on pilots once the aircraft is airborne, although the authority maintains communication through air traffic control.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducted an audit of Nepal's air safety in April 2022. According to the air safety report issued by CAAN, Nepal's air safety implementation capacity improved to a score of 70.1 percent in 2023, above the international average of 67.5 percent. However, the string of recent accidents has called CAAN’s effectiveness into question.

During a meeting of the Tourism and International Coordination Committee under the House of Representatives on July 25, MP Udaya Shumsher Rana criticized CAAN leadership for the seven air accidents that occurred since Pradeep Adhikari took charge, urging for greater accountability. The ICAO has recommended that CAAN be divided into two separate organizations—one as a regulator and the other as a service provider—to enhance regulatory capacity, a suggestion that has yet to be implemented.

Following the Air Dynasty helicopter crash, the government formed a three-member commission to investigate the incident. The commission, led by senior pilot Subas Thapa of the Nepalese Army, includes Maintenance Manager of Simrik Air Bishnu Basnyat and Senior Divisional Engineer of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Tanuja Pokharel. They are mandated to submit a report on the incident within a month.

Air Dynasty, a helicopter company with the most flights in Nepal, has been providing helicopter services for nearly 30 years. According to the Nepal Tourism Statistics 2023, Air Dynasty conducted 2,234 flights that year, serving 6,840 passengers, the highest among helicopter companies. The crash on Wednesday destroyed one of the company’s helicopters, but plans are already in place to add another helicopter to the fleet within the next few months, according to senior manager Balkrishna Pandit. The company is managed by Pavitra Kumar Karki.

Warning of Permit Cancellation for Non-Compliance with Safety Standards

The government has decided to cancel the air service permits of airlines and helicopter service providers that fail to meet the minimum safety standards set by the High-Level Security Coordination Committee. According to ICAO's World Aviation Safety Plan (2020-2022), air service providers must maintain at least 60% progress in their safety management system implementation.

CAAN has announced that the decision to revoke permits for non-compliant air service providers was made at a committee meeting on August 2. In 2023, four airlines and all four helicopter companies failed to meet the required safety criteria. The committee has also decided to impose penalties, such as reducing the number of flights, not extending permit periods, and requiring re-certification after major maintenance for those who do not comply with the safety standards.