Four-member panel formed to probe Fishtail chopper crash

The Government of Nepal on Tuesday formed a four-member commission to look into yesterday’s fatal crash of a Fishtail Air helicopter in Nuwakot district in which seven people including a newborn baby were killed.

The commission, led by former Director General of Aviation Department Haribhakta Shrestha, has been given three months to investigate into the accident and submit its report.

The commission includes Simrik Air’s Engineering Director Bishnu Basnyat and Nepal Army’s Lt Col Subas Thapa as members and Joint Secretary Suresh Acharya at the Aviation Safety Division of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation as the member-secretary.

The commission was formed following a directive from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who has kept the MoCTCA with himself.

All seven people on board the ill-fated helicopter, piloted by Captain Kiran Limbu, lost their life in the crash in remote forest area in Madanpur of Nuwakot district.