Nepal's probe report contains inconsistencies: US-Bangla CEO

The initial probe report provided by Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority over US-Bangla plane crash contains 'inconsistencies'.

Chief Executive Officer of US-Bangla Airlines Imran Asif came up with the allegation at a press briefing at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.

The Nepalese authorities published a probe report on April 9 over the tragic plane crash at Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport on March 12.

"In the report, it was claimed that the authorities concerned of Nepal started extinguishing blaze two minutes after the plane crash," US-Bangla CEO said, reports UNB.

"We believe the rescue workers did not reach the aircraft within the two minutes. If they did there would have been far fewer casualties,” he said.

Replying to a question, the CEO said, "We don't reject the report but there are some inconsistencies in the report."

He also said in the initial report they couldn't reach a conclusion over the disruption in the conversation between the pilot of the plane and the air traffic control tower at the airport.

The US-Bangla Airlines authorities also raised a question over the transfer of six air traffic officers stationed at Tribhuvan International Airport traffic control tower after the incident.

Responding to a question, Asif said, "We hope the final probe report will be fair and the reason behind the crash will be known with it."

The 76-seater Bombardier had 71 people, including four crew members, on board when it crashed in a field near the airport on March 12, killing 51 people and injuring others.

Among the deceased, 27 are Bangladeshis (including all four crew members), 22 Nepalese and one is a Chinese citizen.