Parliamentary Committee, Victims’ Families Call for Further Probe into Saurya Airlines Crash

The International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives has concluded that the Saurya Airlines crash warrants deeper investigation and stricter enforcement of aviation safety standards.

The committee members made the revelation after reviewing the final report of the crash investigation commission led by Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. The meeting held at Singha Durbar on Thursday also decided to seek legal advice before making a formal decision.

According to the commission’s report, the January 15 crash of the 9N-AME CRJ-200 aircraft, which killed 18 of the 19 people on board, was caused by human error rather than weather conditions. The aircraft went down just four seconds after take-off, and the rescue operation was deemed ineffective. The report also found that the cabin crew had not fastened seatbelts, some passenger baggage was later found in the airline’s office, and both the regulator and service provider shared responsibility for operational lapses.

The report, prepared in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, includes recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future. However, several lawmakers and victims’ families questioned the investigation’s credibility and called for judicial inquiry, alleging conflicts of interest and shortcomings in the rescue and regulatory oversight.

Speaking on behalf of the victims’ families, Prakash Khatiwada alleged that the crash investigation commission itself was not legally constituted. He claimed the commission’s chairperson had relatives within the airline, that some of those involved in the crash were misrepresented as Saurya Airlines employees, and that the flight had been operated under ‘unscientific’ conditions. He called for a full judicial inquiry into the incident.

Om Katuwal, father of co-pilot Sushant Katuwal, expressed dissatisfaction that blame for the crash had been placed on his son. He argued that the ultimate responsibility lay with the authority that had granted the flight’s operating permission.

Shishir Khanal objected to narratives that singled out the pilot and co-pilot for blame, urging concrete measures to ensure safe air travel. Prem Suwal questioned the credibility of a report that took 11 months to prepare, stressing that the agency authorizing the flight had to bear the greater share of responsibility.

The committee emphasized the need for stricter compliance with safety protocols, adequate resources for emergency response, and clear accountability across all responsible agencies. Committee Chairperson Raj Kishor Yadav said the body would hold further deliberations after legal consultations. -- RSS