Biman Bangladesh Battles a Barrage of Breakdowns

Over the past month, at least nine aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have experienced various mechanical issues either before or after take-off. Reported problems include wheel detachment or bursting, excessive engine vibration, rising cabin temperatures, and landing gear doors failing to close. In one alarming incident, a wheel detached mid-flight without the pilot’s knowledge and fell to the ground. Most of these incidents occurred on international routes. Consequently, several flights returned mid-air, some stopped on the runway, and others were cancelled altogether, causing severe schedule disruptions and significant financial losses for the state-owned carrier.

Biman’s engineering division has come under heavy criticism, with allegations of manpower shortages, mismanagement, and negligence in flight operations.

In early July, a Boeing aircraft developed wheel issues after landing in Jeddah. On the night of July 16, “wheel defects” grounded a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating on the Dubai–Chattogram–Dhaka route at Dubai International Airport. Replacement wheels and parts were flown in on another Biman flight, and repairs were completed, but the aircraft returned to Bangladesh 30 hours late. The delay likely averted a major accident for the 75 passengers onboard. In another incident, a wheel detached from one side of an aircraft departing Cox’s Bazar, but the pilot managed to land it safely at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport.

On July 30, a Boeing 737 on the Sharjah–Dhaka route (BG-352) departed five and a half hours late due to mechanical issues. On July 16, a flight was halted in Dubai after a Boeing’s tire burst, while on July 28, a Dammam-bound flight returned mid-journey due to mechanical faults.

On July 29, at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, baggage handlers discovered numerous cockroaches, insects, and a foul odor in the baggage containers of BG-355 shortly after its arrival. The airport authority immediately suspended baggage delivery and deployed a health team to disinfect the containers. The cleaning process delayed the aircraft’s scheduled 7:20 pm departure to Dhaka by nearly four hours, during which passengers were kept inside the plane.

Earlier, on July 24, a Dreamliner from Dubai to Chattogram faced landing gear door issues shortly after take-off. The aircraft returned to Chattogram for repairs before resuming its journey to Dhaka two hours later.

Most recently, on August 12, two Dreamliner-operated flights on the Dhaka–Kuwait (BG-343) and Dhaka–Chattogram–Dubai routes were cancelled due to aircraft shortages. On August 11, a Dhaka–Chattogram Dash-8 (BG-615) returned to Dhaka 20 minutes after departure due to abnormal cabin temperature. On August 10, a Rome–Dhaka Dreamliner flight (BG-356) was cancelled due to flap malfunctions, leaving 262 passengers stranded in hotels. On August 9, a Singapore–Dhaka flight (BG-585) suffered engine trouble and departed two hours late after repairs. On August 7, an Abu Dhabi-bound flight (BG-327) returned mid-flight due to a faulty lavatory flush, while on August 6, a Bangkok-bound flight made an emergency landing in Myanmar airspace due to excessive engine vibration.

On August 11, Biman issued a message to aviation reporters, stating that “the engineering division is on highest alert to address mechanical faults in the aircraft.” Managing Director and CEO Mohammad Saffiqur Rahman is currently in Malaysia with Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and upon his return, he “will hold a press briefing or issue a statement regarding the recent technical issues.” Until then, he requested “understanding and support for the national flag carrier.”

Biman Bangladesh Airlines currently operates a fleet of 19 aircraft — 14 Boeings from the United States and 5 Dash-8 Q400s from Canada. The Boeing fleet consists of 4 Boeing 737-800s, 4 Boeing 777-300ERs, 4 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and 2 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Sources said that two leased aircraft are in the final stages of procurement, and a new purchase plan is also underway to reduce passenger suffering.