Nepal Airlines Cancels Controversial Training for Director's Relative Following Corruption Allegations

Kathmandu. Following reports in RatoPati regarding policy corruption and nepotism within the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has taken strict action.

Following the Ministry's intervention and directives, the attempt by Captain Subash Rijal, Director of the Operations Department, to send his relative Roshan Koirala for foreign training in violation of regulations has been thwarted.

The name of contract pilot Roshan Koirala, who was preparing to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for Airbus A-320 training, has been removed at the last minute. Instead, Captain Prachanda Shrestha, who has been waiting for his turn, is now confirmed to attend the training. Along with Shrestha, co-pilot Rabin KC will also participate in the training.

The Ministry took serious note of the issue after the report was published on Chaitra 29. Based on this, NAC Executive Director Amritman Shrestha questioned Director Rijal. Faced with mounting pressure and evidence of irregularities, the corporation's leadership decided to halt Koirala's training.

What was the core of the controversy?
Director Subash Rijal had allegedly bypassed 19 qualified pilots waiting for their turn to facilitate expensive foreign training for his relative, Roshan Koirala.

Serious questions remain regarding Koirala's appointment and qualifications. Koirala has already crossed the age limit of 58. He was appointed on a contract basis by Subash Rijal's brother and then-Director, Captain Shrawan Rijal. He had previously gone abroad without fulfilling the condition of depositing a 5 million rupee security bond, and the process was resumed upon his return.

To ensure Koirala passed, the computer-based examination was replaced with a 'paper-based' test. Instead of using Airbus expert instructors, the question paper was prepared by non-type-rated pilot Sanjay Poudel. Sources claim that the question paper was provided directly from the director's office, allowing Koirala to score 100 percent.

It was found that before and for some time after his appointment in Nepal, Koirala was flying under the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service in Africa, which is considered a direct violation of regulatory standards.

For the past 6 years, 10 first officers, including Rabin KC, Melsam Ojha, Prachanda Shrestha, and Prashant Shah, have remained inactive without type-rating. Similarly, by ignoring 6 qualified pilots from the Twin Otter fleet, Director Rijal had attempted to spend state funds to provide training to his relative for personal gain.