KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is under scrutiny over possible aviation safety lapses after reportedly breaching safety procedures at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China. The issue has led to repeated inquiries and warnings from the country’s aviation regulator.
Sources within the airline said the incident took place on February 6, when a Nepal Airlines flight heading to Kathmandu, piloted by Senior Captain Udhab Ghimire, was involved in a ground incident in the airport’s takeoff area.
Following the event, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requested a detailed explanation from NAC, particularly regarding the procedures followed during takeoff navigation.
In a letter sent to the airline, CAAC officials reportedly criticized NAC for providing what they described as a brief email response and instructed the airline to submit a formal report prepared in accordance with regulatory requirements. The Chinese authority also asked Nepal Airlines to attend a meeting convened by the CAAC and explain why its representatives failed to participate in an earlier scheduled discussion.
The regulator further asked the airline to provide comprehensive details about the operational circumstances at the time of the event, including visibility conditions, communication procedures, runway surface status, and other environmental factors.
However, insiders at NAC said the airline did not submit the requested information within the one-week deadline set by the Chinese authority. Officials from the airline’s Operations Department and Safety Office also reportedly did not attend a CAAC meeting scheduled for March 10, citing commitments related to Nepal’s election period.
After receiving no response, the CAAC issued a second and more strongly worded notice on March 9, stating that the airline’s continued lack of action was unacceptable and again demanding a formal safety investigation report.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about safety oversight at the state-owned carrier. Sources within NAC claim the captain involved had previously faced disciplinary measures related to safety issues, including level-bust incidents in Hong Kong, cockpit oxygen-related problems, and breaches of mandatory crew rest requirements in past years.
Aviation specialists note that it is relatively rare for a foreign aviation regulator to formally question an airline unless the issue is regarded as serious and capable of affecting broader operational safety.
It is still uncertain what steps the CAAC might take if Nepal Airlines fails to respond to its requests. It is also unclear whether Nepal’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), will initiate its own investigation. However, officials from both NAC and CAAN declined to comment.
Comment