Scariest flight

Tumlingtar Airport was blanketed in thick fog all morning, and as the hours passed, our hopes of catching a flight began to fade. We were eager to leave Sankhuwasabha after completing one of the toughest site visits for a hydropower project, but the weather seemed determined to keep us grounded. Miraculously, after a four-hour delay, the clouds cleared, and the plane finally arrived.

Just a day before, we had the tragic news of a helicopter crash in the adjoining district that took the life of Nepal’s tourism minister. That news weighed heavily on our minds as we boarded the Beechcraft 1900D aircraft operated by Buddha Air. The flight itself was anything but smooth. Bad weather caused the plane to jolt violently, making the experience even more nerve-wracking. With the previous day's tragedy fresh in my thoughts and the unsettling turbulence in the air, this quickly became the scariest flight of my life.

Navigating Nepal’s mountainous terrain by air always carries some level of risk, especially when the weather is unpredictable. Tumlingtar, a key airport in the eastern region, often experiences delays due to fog, clouds, and the challenging geography. Yet, despite the obstacles, the resilience of local aviation and the determination to connect remote areas like Sankhuwasabha are vital for both infrastructure projects and the daily lives of the people in the region. This journey reminded me just how precarious—and precious—safe travel can be in Nepal’s rugged landscape.