Within a span of three months, two helicopters belonging to Manang Air have met with accidents, rendering the company helicopter-less. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had suspended the ‘Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC)’ of Manang Air, which had become helicopter-less and was not operating any flights.
The latest accident occurred on Asoj 27, when a helicopter belonging to Manang Air crashed. Prior to that, on Asar 26, another helicopter of Manang had met with an accident. Following two consecutive helicopter accidents, Manang Air was left without any helicopters.
The company purchased the helicopter five months ago. On Wednesday, Manang Air brought the H125 (B3e) helicopter, produced in 2023 by Airbus, from factory to Kathmandu.
Half of the investment has gone in vain, and Manang is now in suspension, awaiting the decision of the AOC and planning to return to flight from this tourist season itself.
In just three months, two helicopters of Manang Air had accidents, and two operational pilots were lost. In the accidents on Asar 26 and Asoj 27, pilot Chet Bahadur Gurung and Prakash Kumar Sedain were lost, respectively.
Seven lives were lost in the helicopter accidents of Manang Air, including two pilots. In the accident on Asar 26, six individuals including Pilot Gurung were lost, and in the accident on Asar 27, Pilot Sedain suffered injuries, succumbing to them during treatment in India.
