US-Bangla finds ‘inconsistencies’ in Nepal’s probe report

US-Bangla Airlines authorities claimed that there are some 'inconsistencies' in the initial probe report provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on the crash of its aircraft at Kathmandu airport on 12 March, reports UNB.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Asif Kabir of the airlines read out a statement over the report at a press briefing at city hotel on Sunday.

The Nepalese authorities provided the report one month after the tragic plane crash.

"In the report, it was claimed that the authorities concerned of Nepal started extinguishing blaze two minutes after the plane crash but after talking to witnesses and injured victims we found that the number of causalities would have been lesser had the Nepal authorities started their work within two minutes of the accident."

Replying to a question, the CEO said, "We don't turn down the report but there're some inconsistencies in the report."

The 76-seater Bombardier had 71 people, including four crew members, on board when it crashed in a field near Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on 12 March, killing 50 people and injuring others.

Among the deceased, 27 are Bangladeshis (including all four crew members), 22 Nepalese and one is a Chinese citizen.

He also said in the initial report they couldn't reach a conclusion over the disruption in the conversation between the pilot of the plane and the air traffic control tower at Tribhuvan airport.

The US-Bangla Airlines authorities also raised a question over the transfer of six air traffic officers stationed at Tribhuvan International Airport traffic control tower after the incident.

Responding to a question, Asif said, "We hope the final probe report will be fair and the reason behind the crash will be known with it."