Nepal Plane crash || Why is it so risky to fly over Nepal?

The fatal plane crash carrying 72 people in Nepal has once again highlighted the gravity of air travel in a country, which has earned the reputation of one of the world’s riskiest places to travel via air.

Yeti Airlines’ flight was just 18 minutes into flying before the pilot lost contact with a control tower in the central city of Pokhara. The aircraft had nearly finished its short journey from Kathmandu, the capital, to Pokhara, Nepal’s second-most populous city and a gateway to the Himalayas.

The deadly crash of a passenger aircraft left close to 68 people dead and rest with severe injuries – making it the worst airplane accident in the Himalayan nation in 30 years. According to Aviation Safety Network, it was also one of the third-worst aviation accidents in the country’s history.

Experts in the aviation business blame inclement weather, low visibility and complicated topography due to mountains. According to a 2019 safety report from Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, the country’s ‘hostile topography’ is one of the huge challenges pilots face.

Nepal is host to the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Everest and its beautiful rugged landscapes makes it a hot tourist destination for trekkers.

The Civil Aviation Authority report stated that aircraft with 19 seats or fewer are more likely to have accidents due to the difficulty to navigate from the air, particularly during bad weather.

Meanwhile, the airport in Nepal’s northeastern town Lukla, is referred as the world’s most dangerous airport. The airport’s runway is laid out on a cliffside between mountains, dropping straight into an abyss at the end.

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In 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a United Nation agency, announced a partnership with Nepal to resolve safety concerns in the country.