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| Kathmandu Wednesday March 13, 2002 Falgun 29, 2058. |
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RNA’s drunk pilot
I would like to share a bad experience I had
while flying with Royal Nepal Airlines (RNA) from Hong to Katmandu on Nov 8, 2001. The
incident has shaken up me and my family so much that we shall not fly with Royal Nepal
Airlines ever again. I have had my Royal Nepal return ticket cancelled, and we shall be
returning to Hong Kong via Bangkok on Thai Airways.
While I was coming to Katmandu along with my
family for a holiday, the flight almost became a nightmare for us. It was right after the
flight took off from Hong Kong and the stewardess started to serve beverages, my 12 year
old daughter pointed to a man dressed in a full flight uniform sitting a few seats ahead
of us in Shangri-La class. To our disbelief , he was gulping down loads of hard drinks. By
the time, three hours of our flight had passed, he seemed pretty drunk and was shouting in
his native language. Until then, we were only shaken up. It got worse when he walked right
into the cockpit and remained there for some time. When the same person got back from the
cockpit, my wife couldn’t just control her self and asked one of the stewardesses as
who was that person in the flight uniform who was drinking hard liquor and making so much
of noise. The stewardess told us that the person was a senior Captain (She mentioned some
name like Kulan Giri) of RNA, and when asked: Do pilots of the RNA drink while on duty?,
her answer was that he was not flying as he had flown in from Kathmandu to Hong Kong.
Although it was a relief to hear that this drunk
pilot was not flying, we were disturbed throughout the flight as he was making lots of
noises. It was only after landing in Katmandu that we felt safe and relieved. However, the
story doesn’t end here. When the very same pilot was heading towards the immigration,
he was not able to walk properly. And later when we were down near the baggage collection
counter, he was fighting with one of the custom personnel, shouting on top of his voice.
We have travelled with most of the major international airlines, but have never seen a
pilot drinking during a flight before. This incident spoilt our holiday mood.
I have no idea whether this drunk pilot got
kicked out from RNA, but I am sure I and my family will never ever fly with Royal Nepal
Airlines again.
J S Kowloon
Hong Kong |
