Biman flight grounded in Rome after 8th Boeing glitch in a month

A flap malfunction forces the flag carrier to cancel the flight to Dhaka, leaving 262 passengers stranded overnight

A Boeing Dreamliner operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been grounded in Rome due to a flap malfunction. It is the eighth time that a technical snag has hit a Boeing aircraft in the national carrier’s fleet in the past 28 days.

The fault, involving a key wing component, was detected by engineers at the Leonardo da Vinci Airport before the plane's scheduled departure for Dhaka on Sunday evening local time.

Replacement parts were requisitioned from London, with the 262 passengers kept in hotels at the airline’s expense until repairs were completed.

“Due to some mechanical problems, the Rome to Dhaka flight was cancelled. Passengers were sent to hotels,” said ABM Mahbubur Rahman, Biman's general manager for public relations.

After repairs, passengers will be flown back to Dhaka on the same aircraft, according to another Biman spokesperson.

The carrier will also incur additional charges for the aircraft’s extended stay at the Italian airport.

This comes after a series of recent technical incidents involving Biman's Boeing aircraft, which include returns to base due to engine vibration, cabin pressure warnings, and toilet malfunctions, as well as groundings in Dubai, Sharjah, and Chattogram.

Against this backdrop, the government is planning to purchase another 25 Boeing aircraft for Biman.

Of the 21 aircraft currently in Biman's fleet, 16 are Boeings, including six 787 Dreamliners, four 777-300ERs, and six narrow-body 737s. In addition, the fleet includes five Dash-8 Q400 aircraft for short-haul routes.