Air India a320 nose wheel damaged after collision with pushcart at Shahjalal airport

The nose wheel of an Air India Airbus A320 was damaged after being struck by a pushcart operated by the airline's ground handling team at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The incident, attributed to the pushcart driver's negligence, prompted his transfer to another assignment as disciplinary action.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Dr. Shafiqur Rahman confirmed the details to Daily Samakal on Sunday. 

He stated that a committee has been formed to assess the extent of damage to the aircraft.

According to Biman officials, the collision occurred on Saturday night, grounding the plane at the airport.

Airport sources reported that after 126 passengers had boarded and the doors were closed, a ground handler from the GSE branch accidentally rammed the nose wheel with the pushcart while attempting to lift it, causing immediate breakage. 

The aircraft was declared unfit for flight as a result.

Passengers were subsequently accommodated in a hotel, with some rerouted to Mumbai on a Sunday morning flight. 

The damaged aircraft remains parked in the airport's bay area.

An airport official described the incident as a clear case of driver negligence or irresponsibility, noting that repairs could take considerable time while damage assessment continues.