A tribute ride in memory of the victims of PIA air crash

Published On: September 24, 2017 04:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Sept 24: Aviation experts stressed on air safety in Nepal during a function organized on Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) airbus crash, which falls on September 28.

Rupak Memorial Foundation (RMF), a non-profit organization founded in memory of Nepal's former football captain Rupak Raj Sharma, who died in the air crash in 1992, also organized a cycle ride to PIA Memorial Park, Lele where the crash occurred.

The PIA Airbus A300B4-203 crashed in Lele on September 28, 1992 en route to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu killing 167 passengers onboard. It was the 100th airline crash with more than 100 casualties in the history of aviation, reads a press statement issued by RMF.

Former IGP and national football team captain Achyut Krishna Kharel inaugurated Saturday's event.

APF IGP Singha Bahadur Shrestha, AIG Jay Bahadur Chand, former APF AIG Rabi Raj Thapa and national riders Ajay Pandit Chhetri, Buddhi Bahadur Tamang, Narayan Gopal Maharjan and Raj Kumar Shrestha also joined the tribute ride.

The ride started from RMF building in Satdobato to PIA Memorial Park, Lele covering 24 kilometers altogether and conclude at the RMF. At the park, the participants lit candles to pay tribute to all the deceased passengers followed by a short instrumental performance by Project Sarangi. The event was participated by a total of 120 riders, including a significant presence of women and few deaf riders.

Following the tribute, a plenary session on Airspace Scenario in Nepal was held in order to promote air safety in Nepal. All participants and guests showed their solidarity by signing a board for air space safety in Nepal, the statement reads.

The speakers of the program included Sanjiv Gautam, director general of CAAN, aviation enthusiast Hemant Arjyal and Dorjee Sherpa, chairperson of SKY Foundation.

All three speakers unanimously emphasized on airspace safety in Nepal and shared that more priority is required to improve the airspace safety in Nepal.

“Airspace safety relies mainly on airport, weather and technical status of the airline and doesn't rely on a single person's decision,” said Gautam, adding that CAAN is focusing to improve human behavior in the battle between man versus machines to bring air crashes down to zero.