Mid Air Door Malfunction Reported
Indian Air Ambulance Emergency Lands in Dhaka
- Indian air ambulance makes emergency landing in Dhaka after mid-air door malfunction
- Patient Anjana Bhowmik pronounced dead after being rushed to Kurmitola Hospital
- Seven individuals were onboard including medical staff, relatives, and two pilots
Responding to a critical mid-air mechanical failure, an Indian air ambulance en route from Agartala to Kolkata executed an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. However, a critically ill female patient onboard was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kurmitola General Hospital.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon (October 18, 2026), confirmed Md. Riaz Uddin, Senior Officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
According to the flight manifest, the deceased patient was identified as Anjana Bhowmik, an Indian national. She was accompanied by Dr. Firoz Khan, paramedic Azim Khan, and two companions, Santa Bhowmik and Deep Jyoti Mishra, all confirmed to be Indian citizens.
Aviation records indicate that the aircraft, a C90A model with registration VT-HYA, was operated by SKB Infracon Private Limited. The flight was commanded by Captain Punya Anup alongside co-pilot Captain Tanuj Sharma, carrying a total of seven individuals onboard.
According to relevant sources, the aircraft experienced a severe safety breach when its cabin door opened unexpectedly while in mid-air. Navigating the emergency protocol, the flight crew diverted to the nearest airfield in Dhaka. Immediately after touching down, the patient was evacuated and rushed to the hospital.
Investigators and aviation authorities are looking into the exact mechanical cause behind the door latch failure during flight and the precise medical cause of the patient's death.
//DBTech/JSF/SMP/BPO//
