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A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Dhaka was forced to return to the terminal on Sunday after a technical problem was detected shortly before takeoff, leaving 127 passengers stranded at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Flight BG372 was scheduled to depart Kathmandu for Dhaka at 4pm. The aircraft had already left the terminal with passengers on board and was heading toward the runway when the technical issue was detected. It was subsequently brought back to the terminal.
Passengers were asked to disembark and wait inside the terminal, causing considerable inconvenience, particularly for elderly passengers, children and those who were unwell.
Passenger S M Nuruzzaman told media that the aircraft left the terminal on schedule but returned shortly after the crew informed passengers of the technical problem.
“We have been waiting at the terminal for about two hours. Initially, we were not given clear information about how long repairs would take, whether lounge facilities would be available or if an alternative flight would be arranged,” he said.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Kathmandu Country Manager Babul Akter confirmed that passengers had been asked to disembark because of the technical issue.
He said it was not yet possible to give a definite timeframe for completing the repairs. Business-class passengers were provided access to the lounge, while other passengers were being given facilities according to the airline’s rules.
Akter said about 127 passengers were on the affected flight and that preparations were underway to bring them to Dhaka on another flight.
He added that Biman was preparing to send a larger aircraft to Kathmandu so that all passengers from the affected flight could be flown to Dhaka together.