Top 10 Airlines With The Most Crashes In Nepal

Last updated on 2024-04-19

Nepal's aviation history begins in 1949, with the arrival of a Beechcraft Bonanza carrying the then-Indian ambassador. Initially, planes would land in Kathmandu on a cow grazing area known as Gauchar. The Department of Civil Aviation was initially founded in 1957 under the then-Government of Nepal's Ministry of Work, Communications, and Transport. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) was founded on July 1, 1958, with the passage of the Nepal Airlines Corporation A Here we have listed the top ten airlines in Nepal with the most crashes.

*The data is based on the research done by The Everest List.

10. Sita Air

Image Source: Sita Air

Sita Air Pvt. Ltd. was founded in October 2000 and made its first commercial flight on February 6, 2003, using a single Dornier DO-228 aircraft constructed in Germany. The firm now owns four Dornier DO-228 aircraft. Sita Air operates distant flights in Nepal, including Rumjatar, Dolpa, Simikot, Rara, and Lukla. Sita Air has had two crashes in Nepal. Saturday 1 June 2013 a landing accident at Simikot Airport (IMK) in Nepal caused significant damage to a Dornier 228 passenger plane, 9N-AHB. The five passengers and two crew members were not injured. On Friday 28 September 2012 Sita Air's Dornier 228-202 passenger plane was destroyed when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM) in Nepal. The entire crew of 19 was killed.

Number of Crashes : 2
Date Established : 2000 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 4

9. Agni Air

Image Source: Twitter

Agni Air was a Kathmandu-based airline that provided domestic flights inside Nepal. It began operations in March of 2006. In November 2012, the airline suspended operations. On March 16, 2006, the airline began operations by linking Kathmandu to Lukla and Tumlingtar with a single Dornier 228 and began flying to Biratnagar the following day. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal awarded Agni Air an air operator license, allowing them to fly both scheduled and mountain flights. Agni Air has had two crashes in Nepal and is not in operation due to financial difficulties. On Monday 14th May 2012, 9N-AIG, a Dornier Do 228 passenger plane, was destroyed when it collided with the side of a mountain near Jomsom, Nepal. There were thirteen passengers and two pilots killed. The flight attendant and five passengers were unharmed. On Tuesday 24th August 2010, A Dornier Do 228-101 passenger plane, 9N-AHE, was destroyed when it crashed a hillside near Bastipur, Nepal. All fourteen on board were killed.

Number of Crashes : 2
Date Established : 2006 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 0

8. Indian Airlines

Image Source: Wikimedia

Air India's journey began in 1932 when Bharat Ratna J.R.D Tata established an airline to realize his goal. As the first Indian to get a commercial pilot's license, it was his love of flying that prompted the birth of Air India, with the start of an Airmail service from then-Bombay to Karachi via Ahmedabad. Air India's international connection, which includes cities in Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Africa, the Gulf, Asia, and Australia, was increased in July 2014 when it joined Star Alliance, the world's biggest air consortium. With 55 aircraft currently in service, Indian Airlines has had two crashes in Nepal.Due to a navigational error, the DC-3 entered the wrong valley on its way to Kathmandu on Monday, March 24, 1958. The aircraft stalled and crashed while attempting to make a turn. Due to a navigational error, the DC-3 entered the wrong valley on its way to Kathmandu on Monday, March 24, 1958. The aircraft stalled and crashed while attempting to make a turn.

Number of Crashes : 2
Date Established : 1953 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 55

7. Thai Airways International

Image Source: 1000 Logos

Thai Airways International Public Co,.ltd is a government-owned company that belongs to the Ministry of Transport. It is a public business that has been listed on the Thai Stock Exchange since 1991, with the Ministry of Finance holding a majority stake of more than 50%. From schedule flights to charter flights and through our alliances with Suvarnabhumi Airport as the main hub for all flight routes. Thai Airways has had two crashes in Nepal and is now operating with 36 planes. On Friday 31 July, 1992 in instrument weather circumstances, Thai Airways Flight 311 was making the Sierra (VOR/DME) approach to runway 02 at Tribhuvan International Airport. The accident occurred on the 015 radial (north-northeast) 23.3 nautical miles from the Kathmandu VOR. On Thursday, May 10, 1973, the DC-8 "Srisubhan" landed far from the runway, overran it, and crossed a concrete drain. The accident caused no injuries.

Number of Crashes : 2
Date Established : 1991 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 36

6. Makalu Air

Image Source: Makalu Air

Makalu Air is Nepal's first Single Engine Cessna Grand Caravan C208B aircraft operator, having three Cessna Grand Caravans in its fleet for charter operations. Makalu Air was founded in 2009 with the first Grand Caravan from the United States. Arial Sightseeing Tours, Emergency Evacuation, Freight Transportation, and Private Chartered are among the services offered by Makalu Air. Makalu Air has had three crashes, yet they still have three planes flying to remote parts of Nepal. On Monday, November 21, 2011, a Makalu Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan encountered a runway excursion after landing at Talcha Airport in Nepal. The jet took a nosedive down the runway embankment. A little fire broke out near the engine, but it was quickly extinguished. Contributing factors included a downdraft on the short final and an unstabilized approach. Only 5 years after the initial incident, on Thursday 4 August 2016, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan flying from Surkhet to Simikot, Nepal, forced landed in the Karnali River due to engine failure. Both members of the crew swam ashore. Currents are alleged to have swept the aircraft away. On Wednesday, May 16, 2018, a Makalu Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crashed into a mountaintop near Simikot, Nepal, at an altitude of 12,800 feet. Both crew members died as a result of their injuries.

Number of Crashes : 3
Date Established : 2009 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 3

5. Necon Air

Image Source: Timetable Images

In 1992, Nepal's first private airline, Necon Air, was founded. The airline combined with two other local airlines, Shangri-La Air and Karnali Air, in 2001. Necon Air took up Shangri-La Air's fleet of two Beechcraft 1900Ds as part of this. Due to financial issues, Necon Air halted flights indefinitely in 2003. In addition to debts to private commercial banks, the airline owed NPRs 20 million to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal for landing and ground costs, as well as NPRs 20 million to the Nepal Oil Corporation for fuel. Necon Air has suffered three crashes and has no flights running. The most recent crash occurred on Sunday 5th September 1999, Flight 128 departed Pokhara at 10:00 NPT for a 35-minute domestic flight to Kathmandu. At 15 km west of Kathmandu, while approaching Tribhuvan Airport runway 02, the aircraft collided with a communication tower of Nepal Telecommunication Corporation just 30 mins after take-off and crashed in a wooded area.

Number of Crashes : 3
Date Established : 1992 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 0

4. Yeti Airlines

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Yeti Airlines Pvt. Ltd. began commercial operations in September 1998 with a single DHC6-300 Twin Otter aircraft constructed in Canada. With a fleet of BAE Systems Jetstream-41, DHC6-300 Twin Otter, and German-built Dornier Do 228 aircraft, it became the largest local airline operator within a decade. Yeti Airlines has four ATR 72-500 aircraft in its fleet, two in 2017, one in 2018, and one in 2019. Yeti Airlines has had four crashes and now operates five domestically in Nepal. On Saturday 24 September 2016 at 16:56 NPT, a Yeti Airlines plane overshot the runway while landing at Bhairahawa Airport. According to our Bhairahawa correspondent Madhav Dhungana, the jet with registration number 9N-AIB overshot and came to rest some 250 meters from the runway's edge. The incident did not injure any of the 32 people on board the British-made Jetstream 41, including three crew members.

Number of Crashes : 4
Date Established : 1998 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 5

3. Nepal Army

Image Source: Wikimedia

The Nepalese Army Air Service was established in the 1960s but did not become an air force unit until 1979. Because just a few helicopters can be equipped, it has limited combat capability. The primary mission of this flying force is transportation, flying paratroopers, and emergency relief (e.g. natural disasters). Aside from the 11th Brigade, the nation has developed a VIP Flight from Tribhuvan Airport, with the majority of the aircraft based in Kathmandu, Surkhet, and Dipayal. The Nepal Army has had five aircraft crashes and currently operates five aircraft. The most recent crash occurred on Tuesday 30th May 2017 a PZL-Mielec M28 Skytruck transport plane flipped over during a runway excursion accident while landing at Bajura Airport, Nepal. The pilot died in the crash. Two occupants are said to be in critical condition. The aircraft had diverted to Bajura due to high winds at the intended destination, Simikot.

Number of Crashes : 5
Date Established : 1979 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 5

2. Tara Air

Image Source: Alternative Airlines

Tara Air operates the most regular and chartered flights in the Nepalese Himalayas, using DHC-6/400 and DHC-6/300 aircraft. They primarily run scheduled flights at discounted costs for the local population. Tara Air frequently undertakes cargo flights for the World Food Program and Nepal Food Corporation to bring crucial food supplies to the most distant corners of the nation. Tara Air has suffered six crashes, making it Nepal's second most crashed airline. Tara Air presently operates six aircraft. The most recent crash of Tara Air occurred on May 29, 2022. Tara Air Flight 197 was a scheduled domestic flight between Pokhara Airport to Jomsom Airport, the DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 airplane carrying 22 people (19 passengers and 3 crew members) took off at 09:55 NPT and lost contact with air traffic controllers around 12 minutes later at 10:07 NPT. The wreckage was discovered on a mountainside 20 hours later with 22 fatalities.

Number of Crashes : 6
Date Established : 2009 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 7

1. Nepal Airlines

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Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) was established on 1 July 1958 with the passage of the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act. 2019 with the primary goal of providing air transport services to any person, agency, or organization in need of such services for the transportation of men or materials from one airport to another within or outside the country. Nepal Airlines has had 16 crashes, making it the most crashed airline in Nepal. Nepal Airlines currently has 6 planes available. NAC is the oldest airline in Nepal so the crashes of the airlines were recorded from the late 50s. Formerly known as Royal Nepal Airlines, the corporation suffered from 13 crashes and the airline faced 3 more crashes since it rebranded to NAC. The most recent crash occurred on Thursday 16th May 2013 with 0 fatalities. The plane landed without following the STOL procedure and crashed onto the banks of the Kaligandaki river due to insufficient speed and lift when during take-off.

Number of Crashes : 16
Date Established : 1958 A.D
No. of Aircrafts (Current) : 6