Probe opens into delay in PM Hasina's flight from Saudi Arabia

The authorities have launched an investigation into a delay in the landing of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's flight from Saudi Arabia.

Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) has also withdrawn the air traffic control operator who was in charge during the flight's landing.

Hasina returned on Tuesday after a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia on invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft carrying the prime minister and her entourage was delayed by 15 to 17 minutes.

"We have taken the matter seriously. The air traffic control room operator, 'Qamrul', was removed immediately," CAAB official Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

He said CAAB formed two committees to investigate the delay.

Shahjalal International Airport Director Zakir Hossain was made chief of a four-member panel to investigate whether there was any 'operational glitch' in the aircraft, Tuhin said.

CAAB Director (Flight Safety) Ziaul Kabir is heading the other committee of three members to investigate whether there was any problem or safety risk on the runway.

An official from the prime minister's Special Security Force (SSF) was included in each of the committees, the CAAB official said.

Zakir Hossain said his committee would file the report on Thursday.

The airport director said Biman and other agencies were also investigating the issue.