Kathmandu, May 22
Bad weather caused the September 2018 Attitude Air chopper crash in Nuwakot, the team investigating the case says in its report.
The report, released on Wednesday, further adds that the pilot was also at fault as he flew into the clouds against advice given to all pilots flying in Nepal. The chopper was coming to Kathmandu from Sano Gaun in Gorkha ferrying a local patient and five other passengers.
Six persons, including the members of the crew, died in the accident on September 8, 2018. One passenger survived.
Following the crash, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation formed a team led by Joint Secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane to investigate the incident. The probe team said that the pilot Nischal KC was at fault as he didn’t take necessary steps to avoid going into the clouds. As a result, the chopper crashed into a hill in Meghang of Nuwakot district.
Helicopter pilots in Nepal are always told to follow Visual Flight Rule (VFR). While following the VFR rule pilots cannot fly through clouds and need to keep a safe distance. In some types of airspace pilots also have to observe the ground. The team report states pilot KC, like many other pilots, didn’t follow those rules.
