US-Bangla Ordered to Pay Full Compensation for 2018 Kathmandu Crash
Kathmandu Court Holds Airline Liable for Gross Negligence; Victims’ Families Awarded $2.74 Million
In a historic verdict, the Kathmandu District Court has directed US-Bangla Airlines to pay $2.74 million in compensation to 17 families affected by the 2018 crash of Flight 211 at Tribhuvan International Airport, which killed 51 of the 71 people onboard.
The court found the Bangladeshi airline guilty of gross negligence and wilful misconduct, marking the first time in Nepal’s aviation history that victims’ families have won such a case.
Among the recipients are families of MBBS students, airline staff, and a crash survivor, with individual payouts ranging from $44,290 to $277,548, excluding prior $20,000 insurance payments.
The ruling, based on the Warsaw Convention and Hague Protocol, excludes the newer Montreal Convention as it wasn’t ratified by Nepal or Bangladesh at the time.
The decision sets a legal precedent in Nepal and is expected to influence airline accountability and safety standards in the region.
