Nepal Airlines’ most well-known pilot has just been suspended, and it’s the fourth time that he has been in trouble with regulators.
In this post:
Aviation regulators suspend senior Nepal Airlines captain
On Friday, November 28, 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) grounded two Nepal Airlines pilots, after they were determined to be filming inside the flight deck during an active flight. This is a breach of the country’s regulations for pilots, once again putting a spotlight on safety at the national carrier.
Specifically, the CAAN called on the suspension of two pilots, including Captain Vijay Lama, for engaging in “photo/videography while operating the aircraft.” Captain Lama is a controversial figure, as the 61-year-old is also an actor, singer, and television presenter, with over 330K subscribers on YouTube, and over 38K followers on Instagram.
Here’s the wild part — this is the fourth time that Captain Lama has faced discipline from the CAAN for violating operational standards. Perhaps his most high profile incident involved aviation vlogger Sam Chui, who flew on the airline, and was invited into the flight deck during the flight, a direct violation of the country’s aviation policies.
This pilot is displaying some very bad judgment
I suppose to Captain Lama’s credit, he’s extremely experienced, and has over 25,000 flight hours, so he obviously knows what he’s doing. At the same time, it sure seems like he thinks he’s “above the law” when it comes to aviation regulations.
One certainly has to wonder just how clouded his judgment is. For example, if regulations don’t allow for visitors in the flight deck during a flight, and then he chooses to invite someone in who films all of this, what does that really say about his judgment?
What makes that incident involving Chui especially strange is that the captain was rostered onto the flight at the very last minute, so presumably the airline put him on the flight because Chui would be onboard. So one wonders if the captain was just given the directive to do whatever Chui wanted, or what…
In this latest incident, it’s not clear to me just how serious this violation was. In many parts of the world, pilots are allowed to take pictures and videos during some non-critical phases of flight. Does Nepal just have stricter regulations, or was he engaged in these activities during more critical phases of flights?
No matter how you slice it, having a pilot be suspended four times while keeping his job is quite something. It makes you wonder if the regulations are too strict, if this guy just gets too much lenience on account of his “celebrity” status, or what…
Bottom line
Nepal Airlines’ most famous captain has been suspended for a fourth time, reportedly for taking videos and pictures inflight, in violation of aviation regulations in the country. In isolation that wouldn’t be much of a story, but this is the fourth time he has faced punishment with regulators, with a previous incident involving him allowing a vlogger into the flight deck.
I’m not sure if Nepalese authorities are just strict with what they’ll suspend people over, or not strict enough when it comes to suspending licenses for those with repeated infractions.
What do you make of this fourth suspension of Nepal Airlines’ most well-known pilot?
IATA should be getting involved!
@ Kathyarseoff
"Shouldn't be. The Captain has final authority for the flight."
Authority - yes.
Accountability - yes also.
Having final authority is not carte blanche for doing whatever the hell the captain wants. Absolutely, they can divert from SOP's and make some decisions that may at times appear questionable. However, providing they can JUSTIFY those decisions or actions its generally fine. When they can't justify their actions (as you also see with the Aer...
@ Kathyarseoff
"Shouldn't be. The Captain has final authority for the flight."
Authority - yes.
Accountability - yes also.
Having final authority is not carte blanche for doing whatever the hell the captain wants. Absolutely, they can divert from SOP's and make some decisions that may at times appear questionable. However, providing they can JUSTIFY those decisions or actions its generally fine. When they can't justify their actions (as you also see with the Aer Lingus Captain who refused to upgrade cabin crew on a ferry flight) their 'final authority' comes into question.
Piss off. You're embarrassing yourself sith this inconsequential drivel!
Kathy, so angry. Heavy weekend?
"Piss off. You're embarrassing yourself sith this inconsequential drivel!"
Enlighten me. What am I embarrassing myself 'sith'? My spelling and grammar? My one sentence posts of nothingness? Your entire contribution to these comments is three posts with a combined total of 21 words. Clap clap! Oh no, Arseoff. That would be you embarrassing yourself. What a loser. xxx
Chill out, Duck Ling. Kathy is correct, your nonsense is embarrassing!
Darryl Macklem-Arseoff.
I think Duck Ling was asking for specifics of what is "nonsense" and "embarrassing" from someone posting a one line comment asserting so. With no facts or even theories to the contrary.
Is it that the captain of a flight does have absolute authority and can do whatever he/she/they want without justification?
Your comment again adds zero. Answer the question and perhaps add something to this forum instead of embarrassing nonsense.
Mocking people is very mature. Leave Darryl and Kathy alone please.
Sam Chui ranks very slightly above Cahill on the idiot vlogger list. For a supposedly knowledgable traveller he should have known better than to ask.
The captain should have known better than to let him in. It's his responsibility, and he should be fired.
The undisclosed fact is how long the previous suspensions lasted. Is this like the baseball pitcher who is suspended from four games but is fifth in the rotation?
BEFORE take off , I was invited up the stairwell to meet the pilots of a C-130 Hercules , BEFORE take-off .
That is the ONLY time to be distracted .
Doesn’t sound like a commercial airline, or even cargo. Other than the military who’s flyin’ C-130s these days?
“invited into the flight deck during the flight”… yeah, that’s a no-no for commercial aviation in most places, and lessons have been learned the hard way. See Aeroflot 593.
Nepal seems to be getting more serious about ‘accountability’ lately… perhaps the people have had enough of corruption.
Let’s just say, their finance minister got his chakras ‘realigned’ recently.
Yet another reason never to fly a Nepalese airline. 75 fatal crashes and 1,047 fatalities since 1962, with 112 deaths in the last 3 years.
In my lifetime, Nepalese airlines have not been involved in an accident during international flight. Domestic flights are a different story. The mountainous terrain and weather makes those domestic flights dangerous.
Shouldn't be. The Captain has final authority for the flight.
Oof you’re the same type of person who thinks George Floyd’s murder did nothing wrong.
So who does have the final authority on a commercial flight? And why the AF would you invoke the name of a drug-addled career criminal who's actually better-off dead?
What are you talking about???
Unfortunately there's 2 mayor channels out there who put out a bad name for any aviation-related channel, 1 is one who uses his influence and subscriber count to force airlines and crew to almost do as he says and act out for a camera, the second, a channel where the user uses drama and over-exaggerates situations in order to induce drama and situations which never really happened, causing him to get in trouble with countries...
Unfortunately there's 2 mayor channels out there who put out a bad name for any aviation-related channel, 1 is one who uses his influence and subscriber count to force airlines and crew to almost do as he says and act out for a camera, the second, a channel where the user uses drama and over-exaggerates situations in order to induce drama and situations which never really happened, causing him to get in trouble with countries and carriers across the globe. Take a guess which these two are
TIM DUNN?
hmm.... is your twin sister Jessica Fckoff, by any chance?
To be fair 2 could be either Josh C or Non Stop D
Emil, And you're using the name of another YouTuber who goes by "itripreport". I've sat behind you. Waving your whole body at people out the window like you're a pentecostal being "slain in the spirit" combined with a seizure. But at least not accosting the crew.
If only Sam Chui could be suspended from the internet...j
Now Willy, you in common with one or two other people appear not to care very much for Sam. May I ask why that is please?
Personally, I have found some of his older flight reviews to be helpful to me. We occupy a similar amount of space on this earth, therefore, if a seat/bed is comfortable for him, it has also proved to be comfortable for me too.
A further consideration to his credit,...
Now Willy, you in common with one or two other people appear not to care very much for Sam. May I ask why that is please?
Personally, I have found some of his older flight reviews to be helpful to me. We occupy a similar amount of space on this earth, therefore, if a seat/bed is comfortable for him, it has also proved to be comfortable for me too.
A further consideration to his credit, he is also a holder of a PPL, I know of no other aviation pundit with such a qualification.
So Willy, your opinion would be appreciated please?
Noel Philips has PPL and has an entire second channel about personal flights. And on top of that, i also personally know two major flight reviewers and aviation content creators from Europe who also have PPL and ATPL respectively. There are bunch more but it would be too convenient so do your own research
I find that I must thank you Willy, for drawing my attention to Sam Chui today.
I have just watched his video taken while travelling on the Air France New La Premiere suite. What a product that is.
Ben fired my interest with his inaugural flight blog back in the summer. So much so, we are booked CDG-SIN in the spring, a route I never would have even thought of without Ben’s live...
I find that I must thank you Willy, for drawing my attention to Sam Chui today.
I have just watched his video taken while travelling on the Air France New La Premiere suite. What a product that is.
Ben fired my interest with his inaugural flight blog back in the summer. So much so, we are booked CDG-SIN in the spring, a route I never would have even thought of without Ben’s live blog.
After viewing Sam’s video, which was very well done actually, we simply cannot wait to experience our flight. I really find it hard to imagine why you speak ill of Sam Chui, please tell?
I enjoy Sam's content but he's not the only aviation vlogger who is a qualified pilot. Noel Philips, another aviation vlogger, is also a PPL and furthermore also has his instrument rating.
I personally don’t care much for Sam Chui’s videos as well. While he is definitely an aviation enthusiast to the max , I often find his interactions with flight crews a bit annoying. The flight crew has a job to do, and it often seems like he interrupts their work for the benefit of his content. I know if I were a flight attendant working a flight Chui was flying on, I’d want to steer...
I personally don’t care much for Sam Chui’s videos as well. While he is definitely an aviation enthusiast to the max , I often find his interactions with flight crews a bit annoying. The flight crew has a job to do, and it often seems like he interrupts their work for the benefit of his content. I know if I were a flight attendant working a flight Chui was flying on, I’d want to steer clear of him so I can focus on my job.
Regarding the PPL, I believe Noel Philips is another aviation-related content creator that has one as well. I prefer his style of videos over Sam’s.
To those who have added information to my knowledge bank, thank you …. everyday is a school day.
I have been on a flight with Sam Chui. The airline had a "minder" for him and let him have free reign of the flight. Whether it was turning up all the lights in the cabin for him to have a better filming opportunity of the meal service or having to repeat the aircraft door closure twice so that he could stand in the galley having a good shot of the gate agents waving from...
I have been on a flight with Sam Chui. The airline had a "minder" for him and let him have free reign of the flight. Whether it was turning up all the lights in the cabin for him to have a better filming opportunity of the meal service or having to repeat the aircraft door closure twice so that he could stand in the galley having a good shot of the gate agents waving from the jetway, standing in the galley during service, etc, he was generally a nuisance.
In Nepal, the government imposed a rule of no filming in flight after his incident with the Captain named in Ben's post.
I dislike him because he is fake as hell and acts like he's besties with everyone. Yet you know the crew only pretend to be okay with it because he has a profile and will try and screw them over if they don't.
I agree. Can't stand the guy and don't watch his ka-ka.