Drone Association of Nepal Files Complaint Over Unauthorised Night Drone Flights Above Kathmandu Air Routes and Army HQ
Why It MattersUnauthorised drone activity near approach paths at Nepal's only international airport exposes the gap between permit rules and enforcement, a recurring safety pressure point for any operator using Kathmandu airspace.
The Drone Association of Nepal said on Monday, 9 November, that drones were flown without permission over air routes and sensitive areas of Kathmandu on Sunday night, 8 November, the night of Laxmi Puja, part of the Tihar festival. The association said the flights posed a serious risk to aviation safety and national security, and it has filed a formal complaint, along with evidence, with the authorities concerned.
According to the association, drones were flown at several places at the same time at night. Some flew over regular air routes and aircraft movement areas, while others recorded footage directly above the Nepali Army Headquarters and other restricted sites. None of the flights had the required approvals, the association said. It did not say how many drones were involved or who flew them.
General secretary Prabin Bhattarai said in a press statement that the flights broke the Drone Flight Procedure, 2075 BS (2018), issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which requires permission to fly drones and limits flights in sensitive areas, as well as aviation safety provisions enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) that govern use of airspace near airports and flight paths. The statement also said night flights over crowded areas raise privacy concerns.
The association asked officials to act to stop such illegal flights and prevent a possible accident, urged the media and the public to discourage reckless drone use, and called for awareness programmes and stronger enforcement by the agencies responsible for flight compliance. No response from CAAN, police or the Army had been reported by Monday evening.
