Biman flight lands safely in Dhaka after losing rear wheel

A Dhaka-bound Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight with 71 passengers on board made a safe emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Friday afternoon after losing a rear landing gear shortly after takeoff from Cox's Bazar.

Flight BG 436, operated by a Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft, took off from Cox's Bazar Airport at 1:20 pm. Minutes into the flight, the pilot detected a technical malfunction and reported to Dhaka Air Traffic Control (ATC) that a wheel had detached from the rear landing gear, prompting an emergency declaration.

"The aircraft landed safely at HSIA at 2:17 pm. All 71 passengers disembarked without injury," Biman's General Manager (Public Relations) ABM Roushan Kabir told BSS.

Following the pilot's emergency alert, HSIA authorities initiated standard emergency protocols, including the deployment of fire and rescue services, to ensure a safe landing.

Biman's technical experts confirmed that the Dash 8-400 aircraft is engineered to land safely even with one rear wheel missing. 

Kabir said Biman's engineering team has begun inspecting the aircraft to determine the cause of the technical failure.

"Our engineers are conducting a thorough assessment to understand the root of the issue," he added.

Biman officials praised the flight crew for their professionalism and swift response, which ensured the safety of all passengers on board.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has also been informed of the incident, and further investigations are expected.