Double Standards Alleged in Nepal Airlines Disciplinary Actions Amid Smuggling Scandal

Kathmandu. A 'double standard' has emerged within Nepal Airlines Corporation regarding the handling of illegal activities by its employees. While the corporation has historically enforced strict discipline for even minor offenses, it has recently been found attempting to cover up and grant immunity for serious smuggling incidents involving well-connected pilots and high-ranking officials.

Historically, Nepal Airlines has set precedents for taking stern action in cases involving smuggling and foreign currency misappropriation by its staff. About four decades ago, Captain Ramesh Upadhyaya was dismissed on charges of smuggling after being found with a few watches upon landing at Tribhuvan International Airport.

Similarly, in the 1990s, Captain Kamal Krishna Shrestha, who was caught with a few grams of gold upon returning from Dubai, and Captain Laxman Das Pradhan, accused of carrying 20,000 US dollars, both lost their positions.

In the past, air hostesses Pushpalata Trikhotri and Tulasa Basnet were also removed from service for their involvement in watch smuggling. Whether it was the arrest of Senior Captain Subarna Awale with 93,600 US dollars in April 2017 while preparing for a Dubai flight, or the dismissal of cabin crew member Sandesh Tiwari for gold smuggling in November 2025, the corporation had maintained its tough image.

However, the corporation's leadership has shown mysterious silence and bias in the recent serious incident involving Captain Rajesh Kushwaha. Following a flight from Dubai to Kathmandu on 15 February 2026, approximately 18 tolas of gold (estimated value of 5.5 million rupees) were found in Captain Kushwaha's bag during customs inspection at the airport. Instead of being brought to justice for such a serious crime, he was held for only three hours and released based on a 'verbal apology' and an assurance that he 'would not do it again'.

According to information reaching the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, no formal investigation or departmental action process was initiated in this case.

Specifically, the corporation's Operations Director, Captain Subash Rijal, is accused of covering up the incident because the accused pilot, Kushwaha, is his close associate. Following strong intervention from the Ministry, he was removed from the roster on February 25, but after only 20 days, on 20 March 2026, he was returned to regular flight duty without any concrete investigation.

This incident has further strengthened other allegations of nepotism and abuse of authority against Operations Director Rijal. Actions such as his controversial attempt to send his son-in-law, Roshan Koirala, for Airbus training and the appointment of his brother, Captain Shrawan Rijal, at a high monthly salary of 2 million rupees, suggest that personal rule prevails over established procedures within the corporation.

An airline official stated that the trend of losing jobs for carrying small amounts of illegal goods or currency in the past, while receiving immunity due to access and power even when millions worth of gold is seized, has raised serious questions about the institutional transparency and security mechanism of Nepal Airlines.

He remarked that this apathy within the corporation, contrary to the universal principle that the law does not differ based on position and status, has caused concern regarding the monitoring system of the country's aviation sector.