KATHMANDU- Nepal Airlines’ (RA) most famous pilot faces suspension following a new cockpit filming violation during a scheduled passenger service operating from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).
The action was taken after aviation regulators confirmed that two pilots were filming inside the flight deck during an active flight, marking the captain’s fourth disciplinary case.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) grounded both pilots on Friday, November 28, 2025, citing a breach of national aviation regulations that prohibit “photo/videography while operating the aircraft.”
The repeated safety violations have intensified scrutiny of compliance standards and professional conduct at the national carrier.
Nepal Airlines Pilot Fourth Suspension
CAAN formally suspended Captain Vijay Lama and his colleague after verifying that they engaged in photo and video recording during aircraft operation.
The agency confirmed the act directly violated cockpit safety rules in Nepal, which outline zero tolerance for any kind of filming on duty.
Captain Lama, age 61, is well known beyond aviation for his acting, singing, and television presence. His personal brand extends to digital platforms, with over 330,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 38,000 Instagram followers.
According to OMAAT, this newest suspension follows three earlier violations of operational protocol, including the incident involving aviation vlogger Sam Chui, who was invited into the cockpit during flight.
In that earlier case, Vijay Lama was reportedly rostered onto the Sam Chui flight at the last minute, which raised speculation about whether the airline expected him to comply with the influencer’s filming interests.
Reported by My República, concerns now focus on whether repeated infractions stem from lenience linked to his celebrity status or a deeper breakdown in regulatory deterrence.
Pattern of Infractions and Judgment Questions
The captain Vijay Lama’s disciplinary record now spans four separate violations:
- First and second suspensions: unauthorized photography and filming during commercial flights.
- Third suspension: inviting a vlogger into the cockpit while airborne.
- Fourth suspension: filming inside the flight deck during active duty on November 28, 2025.
A growing discussion questions whether the captain’s experience and fame may be influencing his perception of acceptable conduct.
With more than 25,000 flight hours, he is widely regarded as technically capable, yet his repeated disregard for cockpit restrictions has led some aviation observers to question whether he considers himself exempt from standard procedures.
Multiple aviation markets allow limited filming or photography during non-critical phases of flight. However, Nepal’s rules impose strict prohibitions throughout all flight phases.
It is unclear whether this latest violation occurred during a critical stage or whether Nepal’s regulatory stance is simply more restrictive than other jurisdictions.
This uncertainty has prompted debate on whether regulators are too strict with penalties or too lenient with repeated offenders.
Each violation increases public focus on safety at Nepal Airlines (RA) and invites questions about organizational oversight.
Consistent enforcement of cockpit discipline is critical to maintaining high safety standards, and recurring misconduct creates reputational risk for both the airline and the aviation sector.
Aviation authorities emphasize that even minor procedural deviations can affect overall safety frameworks.
Bottom Line
Nepal Airlines’ most visible captain has now been suspended for a fourth time due to cockpit filming during active flight operations.
The combination of repeated misconduct, celebrity influence, and regulatory enforcement challenges continues to fuel controversy and calls for stronger compliance monitoring across the national carrier.
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