Karnali Air

Karnali Air

IATA ICAO Call sign — — —
Ceased operations	2001
Operating bases	Tribhuvan International Airport
Fleet size	6 (at closure)
Headquarters	Kathmandu, Nepal
Key people	Narayan Singh Pun[1] (Founder)
Employees	80 (2001)[2]

Karnali Air Pvt. Ltd. was a helicopter airline based at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, operating chartered helicopter services. It merged with Necon Air in 2001 but kept operating under its name.

History

In 2001 Karnali Air was, along with Shangri-La Air, part of an ‘operational merge’ with Necon Air.[3] The Executive Chairman of Karnali Air, Narayan Singh Pun took on the position of Executive Chairman and managing director of Necon Air.[4]

Fleet

At the time of closure, Karnali Air operated the following aircraft:[3]

Karnali Air Fleet

Aircraft	In fleet	Notes
Eurocopter Ecureuil	6

Accidents and incidents

• 19 September 2002 – A Karnali Air Eurocopter Ecureuil on a medivac mission was attacked in Jubu, Solukhumbu and set on fire by members of the People's Liberation Army, Nepal during the Nepalese Civil War. The pilot and one passenger were abducted but let go one day later.[5]
• 8 August 2006 – A Karnali Air Mil Mi-8MTV-1 crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport during a ground check-up. Seven people were injured.[6][7]

References

1. Yogi, Bhagirath (14 March 2003). "Narayan Singh Pun". Nepali Times. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
2. "Necon Begins Consolidation". New Business Age. October 2001. Archived from the original on 14 November 2006.
3. Uprety, Surendra (1 October 2001). "Operational Merge : Need of the Hour". nepalnews.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2004.
4. "Necon Begins Consolidation". nepalnews.com. 1 October 2001. Archived from the original on 14 November 2006.
5. "Nepal rebels attack helicopter". BBC. 19 September 2002. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
6. "Pilots' error blamed for chopper crashes". The Himalayan Times. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
7. "9N-AGS". Soviet Transport Database. Retrieved 6 June 2020.