Ministry, Biman Bangladesh start separate probes into technical glitch on PM's flight

Two separate inquiries have been ordered to probe the technical problems that forced the Hungary-bound flight carrying the prime minister to make an emergency landing in Turkmenistan.

The civil aviation ministry and the Bangladesh Biman Airlines authority formed two separate committees, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said on Monday.

The Biman Boeing 777 aircraft taking Sheikh Hasina to Budapest had to make a four-hour unscheduled stop at the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat on Sunday after it was forced to land there due to technical problems.

The aircraft, named 'Ranga Prabhat', was carrying 99 passengers, including the prime minister and her entourage. It was also carrying 29 crew members.

After repairs were complete, the prime minister and her entourage coto fly  on to Budapest on the same aircraft.

Speaking to the media at his office, Menon said a 'drop in fuel pressure was detected in one of the engines.'

"Step will be taken if it's found that anyone's negligence caused it."

Right in front of reporters , minister Menon  ordered the suspension of the Biman Engineering Division Director, in charge of VVIP flights, over a phone call.

Additional Secretary Kumar Sarkar will head the civil aviation ministry probe.

Biman Chief Technical Officer Fazal Mahmud Chowdhury will lead its inquiry.

A senior Biman official told bdnews24.com on Sunday that the problem occurred as the supply of engine oil to the plane's left engine was disrupted.

"Our pilots could sense the glitch much earlier. They informed the prime minister's staff immediately after they saw the glitch in a monitor at the cockpit," he said requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

"The plane was flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet when its left engine started losing power. It stopped completely 12 to 15 minutes before landing in Turkmenistan," he added.

He also said he came to know that 'the problem could be fixed only by tightening some nuts and bolts'.

"After two test runs for the engine, the aircraft resumed the journey with the prime minister on board," he said.

He blamed maintenance negligence for the glitch.

"How can the nuts and bolts of a plane carrying the head of the government come loose?!" he exclaimed.

"If any line or pipe burst, it would have taken a long time to fix. In that case, the repair tools would have to be flown from Dhaka or another nearby place because VVIP flights do not carry them," he said.