Rastriya Swatantra Party Leader Balen Shah's Helicopter Turned Back Mid-Flight Over Alleged Lack of Permit

The helicopter carrying senior leader of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and candidate for Jhapa Constituency No. 5, Balen Shah, returned to Kathmandu without reaching its destination. Sources from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) claimed that although he was scheduled to fly to Jhapa on Thursday morning, the helicopter was turned back midway after information was received that he had not obtained the necessary permit.

'We received information from above that the helicopter had not obtained permission, and accordingly, the helicopter was returned to Kathmandu before reaching Jhapa,' said a CAA source.

However, Balen's secretariat clarified that they had obtained permission to use the helicopter. The authorization letter sent by Balen's secretariat to Ratopati shows that Balen had received permission from the Election Commission on Wednesday to use the helicopter. The letter stated, '...It is requested to arrange to keep the record of the expenses incurred while using the helicopter on the Kathmandu-Jhapa route, as requested by the Commission when it asks for it, for the senior leader of the said party, Mr. Balendra Shah, who is a candidate for Jhapa Constituency No. 5 in the House of Representatives election, permission has been granted to use the helicopter only on the Kathmandu-Jhapa route on the date 2082.11.21.'

The helicopter carrying Balen had already flown 50 miles from Kathmandu. Following the helicopter's return midway, various comments are being made about the incident. Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari also confirmed that Balen had obtained permission from the Commission to use the helicopter. 'Various issues are arising. But, he has obtained permission,' he said.

According to sources, this situation arose after instructions were suddenly issued from a high level of government to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) to turn back the aircraft, claiming that no permission had been obtained after Balen had already departed for Jhapa.

This news has been updated and published as some facts in the previously published news were different - Editor