Needhi Gandhi
Aeroplane crashes are a tragedy and one of the most feared disasters in the world. Even though some aeroplane crashes can never be fully explained, design flaws can cause a crash. These can include issues such as unstable flight control surfaces or inadequate safety standards. An aircraft that is not properly designed can be more difficult to control, increasing the likelihood of a crash. In addition, design flaws can make an aircraft more susceptible to mechanical failure. Moreover, mechanical malfunctions are typically due to defective or worn-out parts. This includes parts like hydraulic systems, engines, brakes, and other components of the aircraft. Poor maintenance or not following the right maintenance procedures can also cause mechanical failures, as can design flaws or low safety standards. Other factors that contribute to errors include poor decision-making or inadequate training, poor communication between the pilot and air traffic controllers, and distractions such as cell phone use or fatigue. Poor weather conditions can also lead to a crash.
The Sudden Crash
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft was carrying 68 passengers and four crew members and flying to Pokhara from Kathmandu on Sunday, January 16. There were 57 Nepalis, 5 Indians, 2 South Koreans, 4 Russians, and 1 person each from France, Australia, Ireland, and Argentina. The 27-minute scheduled flight crashed and plunged into a gorge a few minutes before it was about to land at Pokhara International Airport, which had just been inaugurated two weeks before. The rescuers have now found 68 bodies in the crash debris. No survivors have been found yet. The rescuers claim that there is no chance of anyone surviving.
Cause of The Aeroplane Crash In Nepal
The cause of this crash isn’t clear yet. With help from French authorities, a government committee has started its investigation into the cause of this crash. ATR, the Aerospace Company, with headquarters in France, manufactured the Yeti Airlines plane. On Monday, the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder were both retrieved by the searchers and rescuers from the crash site, and they would be handed over to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority. The devices and the recorder data will help investigators determine the cause of this crash. The authority said that all ATR-42 and 47 planes in the country have been inspected after this crash, and no mechanical issue exists.
Other Plane Crashes in Nepal
In the past, Nepal has witnessed many fatal crashes. But this one was the worst aviation disaster in Nepal since the deadliest one that happened in September 1992, killing almost 167 people as an international flight from Pakistan disintegrated after hitting a hill south of Kathmandu.
In recent years, the country has improved its safety standards, but challenges remain. Last May, a Tara aeroplane that had departed from Pokhara crashed, leaving 22 people dead. Before that, in 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines plane from Dhaka to Kathmandu caught fire and crashed. 71 people were on board, and 51 were dead. Back in 2016, a Tara aeroplane crashed while flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The EU has banned all Nepal airlines over safety concerns about its airspace.
A lack of investment in ageing aircraft is highly responsible for all flying risks. Bad weather conditions or unpredictable weather patterns are not the only main problem for flight operations. The hostile topography of the country also creates a lot of challenges for pilots. The terrain can be tough to navigate from the air, mostly during bad weather, and situations become worse when there is the need to use small planes to access the more remote or mountainous parts of Nepal. So planes with 19 seats or fewer are at a high risk of facing accidents because of such challenges.
In order to lower the likelihood of an accident occurring, it is crucial to understand the causes of aeroplane crashes. In addition to getting the right training and making sure the plane is in good shape, pilots should also know what the weather is like before taking off or landing. By following these safety measures, aeroplane crashes can be prevented, and the lives of those who travel by air can be protected.
