Two Committees Formed to Probe Buddha Air Crash at Bhadrapur

Two separate investigation committees have been formed to probe the Buddha Air ATR aircraft accident that occurred during landing at Bhadrapur Airport on Poush 18 (31 December , 2025).

According to Gokarna Prasad Upadhyay, Information Officer at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, a ministerial-level investigation committee has been formed following a decision made at the Cabinet meeting held on Monday. Senior Captain Binod Puri of Summit Air has been appointed as the lead investigator. As per the Civil Aviation Regulations, 2071, Captain Puri will conduct the investigation and may include subject-matter experts as required.

In line with provisions related to aircraft accident investigations under the Civil Aviation Regulations, the committee led by Captain Puri will carry out a detailed investigation into the Bhadrapur incident and submit a report to the government. The committee will independently and impartially examine all aspects of the accident, including the aircraft, flight crew, airline company, service provider bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), and the Bhadrapur Airport Office.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has also initiated a separate investigation into the incident. CAAN, which serves both as a service provider and regulator, has the legal authority to investigate aviation incidents and accidents under the Civil Aviation Regulations, 2058. These regulations allow the Director General to conduct investigations independently in addition to any inquiries carried out under prevailing laws.

In accordance with this legal provision, CAAN has formed an investigation committee under the coordination of Senior Captain Rupakumar Siddhi, who is currently serving in the Flight Operations Inspectorate (FOI) of the Flight Safety Department. CAAN spokesperson Bikram Raj Gautam said the committee includes Mukesh Dahal, Deputy Director of ANSD; Bidan Shrestha, Deputy Manager at the Flight Safety Department; Laxman Devkota, Manager of the Safety Management Division; and Yogesh Pudasaini, Deputy Manager of Aerodrome Safety.

The committee has been given 35 days to submit its report to Director General Devchandra Lal Karn.

Separately, Buddha Air has also launched an internal investigation, according to a company official. Although there were no human casualties in the incident, preliminary observations by rescue personnel indicate damage to the aircraft’s nose section, cockpit, and landing gear.

Both the captain and co-pilot involved in the accident have been removed from the flight roster and grounded pending the investigation. Both investigation committees will examine the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and will also record statements from the pilots and air traffic control staff working at Bhadrapur Airport.