KATHMANDU: In the wake of the recent air accident in the federal capital, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has faced scrutiny from lawmakers.

According to the state-owned RSS, they questioned why major stakeholders remained silent spectators while plane crashes increased in recent years, damaging the nation's image.

Lawmakers, during a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee under the House of Representatives on Thursday, asked who was responsible for the air crashes Nepal has witnessed, resulting in significant loss of human life and property. They emphasized the need for rigorous studies and effective enforcement of the study reports, the RSS report added. However, they voiced concerns about the non-implementation of these reports.

Those found guilty in these incidents must be held accountable, they insisted.

On the occasion, the MPs also urged the government to operationalize the two new international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport, which remain underutilized outside the federal capital.

Lawmaker Uday Shumsher JB Rana asserted that CAAN is the most responsible entity for the Saurya Airlines plane crash, and certain officials should face legal action.

“The trading of barbs between CAAN and the Nepal Airlines Corporation must end to find solutions to the problems tarnishing the nation's reputation. A separate entity is required for air safety," RSS quoted Rana as saying.

Similarly, Sishir Khanal stated that air safety was becoming a pressing issue and that concerned bodies must be brought under legal scrutiny. Under the present leadership of CAAN, seven fatal air incidents occurred in two and a half years, claiming the lives of 118 people. He stressed that it is time for CAAN leadership to take moral responsibility.

Former Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, suggested forwarding a bill to split CAAN to enhance air safety although it remains unclear why he did not prepare the bill during his tenure as the civil aviation minister.

Bimalendra Nidhi questioned why there was a lack of initiatives to get Nepal removed from the EU's air safety blacklist.

However, CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari responded that it would be difficult to determine the reasons behind air crashes until the investigation reports are released.