Mental health history of airline pilots in the spotlight after fatal US-Bangla crash, report says

Nepali investigators have cast a spotlight on the history of mental health of pilots in the final report on the crash of the US-Bangla plane at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International last year, killing 51 people. The 43-page report recommended that before the renewal of licence of any permanently grounded pilot due to a medical reason, a thorough periodic physical and psychological status should be assessed. A system should be adopted so as to monitor the medical condition closely in all subsequent medical examinations as well, the report said. The investigation commission has recommended that all airline pilots undergo a psychological evaluation as part of the training or before entering into service. The report said that the pilot’s detail medical history was not reviewed by US-Bangla Airlines when he was hired. <br/>