A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying 82 people, 78 passengers and four crew members, landed safely at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon after developing a hydraulic system fault that prevented its nose landing gear from deploying normally.
The Dash 8-400 aircraft, operating flight BG436 from Cox’s Bazar, landed at around 3:09pm after the pilot successfully executed an alternative manual procedure to extend the front gear. Airport authorities temporarily suspended all commercial flight take-offs and landings as a precaution during the approach.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Assistant Director Kawsar Mahmud confirmed that the aircraft had departed Cox’s Bazar Airport at approximately 1:35pm. Shortly after take-off, a fault developed in its hydraulic system 2, leading to difficulties in deploying the nose gear.
At around 2:20pm, whilst flying at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) to the emergency.
Following the alert, Dhaka airport authorities activated emergency response protocols, placing airport fire service and rescue crews on high alert.
Full emergency preparations were put in place on the ground, while commercial traffic was temporarily halted.
Because the nose wheel initially failed to extend, the pilot circled over Dhaka and Tangail to burn off fuel and execute alternative procedures before successfully lowering the gear.
The aircraft subsequently made a safe landing at 3:09pm.
In a statement issued after the landing, Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ public relations department confirmed that the flight had arrived slightly behind schedule due to a technical fault, though the flag carrier did not elaborate on the specific nature of the malfunction.
The Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, the CAAB Chairman, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and the Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were all present at the airfield alongside other senior officials to oversee the emergency operation.
