Nepal’s plane crash raises questions over the safety of its rickety aircraft

The recent deaths of 13 Indians in a plane crash in Nepal has once again raised questions over the safety of ‘flying coffins’ in the Himalayan country’s airspace.

Lakhs of tourists who visit the country every year prefer to fly there as air travel is considered a reliable mode of transport in absence of sufficient motorable roads.

The country has seen more than 45 accidents since the liberalisation of its aviation industry in 1990s. Investigations show that the aircraft used have been junk and airlines don’t adhere to safety standards. The hilly areas and poor airport infrastructure too have added to the accidents. Also, the civil aviation authority (CAA) doesn’t have the teeth to implement the recommendations made by the investigation team of a crash, sources said. CAA officials could not be contacted for comment.

Apart from the crashes of Dornier aircraft, on Monday and in August 2010, a helicopter crash in Ghunsa in 2006 killed 24 people.

What is terrifying is the fact that the helicopter was not designed for passengers, but was meant for cargo. Passenger helicopters come with better safety design and hence, cost double that of cargo ones, industry experts said.