Khaleda’s London flight: German air ambulance seeks ‘Tuesday landing slot’

The German air ambulance hired to take BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for treatment has sought a landing slot in Dhaka for Tuesday, according to a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) official.

The official told bdnews24.com that the request came from FAI Aviation Group through a third party.

The application seeks an arrival slot on Dec 9, followed by departure for London on Dec 10, a Wednesday.

The former prime minister has been in medical care at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital for about two weeks.

She was expected to fly to London early Friday on a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar for advanced treatment.

But the BNP said the aircraft was delayed due to a “technical glitch”.

Later on Friday, the party said the Qatari air ambulance would not arrive. Instead, the Qatar emir would send another aircraft rented from Germany.

It, however, has not confirmed when the replacement aircraft will reach the capital.

On Saturday, the medical board treating Khaleda said she had not yet regained the physical capacity required for air travel, which is why the London trip was being delayed.

A doctor on the board told bdnews24.com that she “may achieve” the required capacity around Dec 9–10.

According to the Qatar Embassy in Dhaka, the aircraft being hired is from FAI Aviation Group, headquartered in Nuremberg.

The jet is a twin-engine Bombardier Challenger (CL-60) model, configured fully as an air ambulance.

Its serial number indicates it was delivered in 2018.

FAI Aviation Group’s website notes that its air ambulances carry ventilators, monitoring units, infusion pumps, oxygen supply, medicines, and other advanced medical equipment.

The aircraft is staffed by experienced doctors, nurses, and paramedics trained in in-flight critical care.

Khaleda last travelled to London for treatment in January, using an air ambulance from the personal fleet of the Emir of Qatar.