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An aircraft of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Friday was forced to make an emergency landing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka shortly after a successful take-off due to an unexpected bird strike on one of its engines.
The flight, carrying 7 crew members and 154 passengers, was going to Singapore.
However, All the passengers, crew, and the aircraft are safe. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating as flight BG-584, took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 8:38 am.
Shortly after takeoff, around 21 minutes into the flight and after reaching an altitude of over 2,500 feet, the captain reported an engine-related issue and decided to return to Dhaka.
According to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport authorities, the aircraft landed safely at 8:59 am and was parked at Bay 14.
After the landing, the runway was inspected by relevant authorities, who initially reported finding no foreign objects or bird remains.
However, Group Captain S M Ragib Samad, Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, later confirmed that the incident was indeed a bird strike. "Blood stains were discovered in the engine cowling after landing, indicating a possible bird strike," he stated.
A replacement flight left HSIA at 1:45 pm, confirmed HSIA authorities.
On May 20 this year, an aircraft of the Turkish Airlines also made an emergency landing at the airport shortly after a successful take-off due to an unexpected bird strike on its second engine.
Growing number of incidents of bird strikes in the sky around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has created a major safety concern for flight operations, according to a survey that found unregulated business activities within its 10-kilometre radius makes breeding space for birds.
The study carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has found that 55 per cent of 1,335 dumping grounds around HSIA remain open while 50 per cent of 753 kitchen markets and 85 per cent of 663 slaughtering houses are located on roadside in open spaces.
The study findings were disclosed at a workshop on Quest for a Safer Sky organised by CAAB at its auditorium on January 8 this year amid incidents of different international aircraft accidents in the world.
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