Bangladesh security agency checking whether fault in PM's flight was 'sabotage'

A 'human factor' caused the technical glitch on the Hungary-bound plane carrying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon has said.

He has also said that a security agency is currently checking whether the 'human factor' was an act of sabotage.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Boeing 777 'Ranga Prabhat', carrying the prime minister and her entourage to Budapest, was forced to make an emergency landing in the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat.

Speculations have surfaced with the authorities opening three investigations into the incident.

A member of the Biman committee on Saturday told bdnews24.com that 'human error' appeared to be the reason behind the emergency landing.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) and the civil aviation ministry formed the two other committees.

On the opening day of the 10th Parliament's 13th session on Sunday, Civil Aviation Minister Menon issued a statement on the incident under Rule 300, which does not allow supplementary questions to be asked.

According to Menon, three factors are being considered during investigations into the faults or safety risks on the aircraft.

The factors are - 1. Mechanical or technical factor; 2. Environmental factor; and 3. Human factor (inefficiency, lack of professionalism or intentions or callousness).

Menon said, "It appears from the initial reports from Biman and CAAB that the third one, meaning the human factor', is responsible for the fault in the Biman flight."

"But the agency related to security is checking whether it was negligence of those on duty or sabotage," he added.

People related to the investigations told bdnews24.com that the problem in the aircraft was not related to fuel.

A nut of the tank of engine oil or lubricant came loose, causing a leak in engine oil, they said.

The left engine of Biman Bangladesh Airlines' plane 'Ranga Prabhat' stopped when it was flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on board on Nov 27, forcing an emergency landing in Turkmenistan.

The Biman investigation also found that the 'oil heat exchanger' or 'oil pressure sensor' next to the nut had undergone 'small repair work' some days earlier.

A member of the Biman committee told bdnews24.com that those who worked there had apparently touched or loosened the nut 'intentionally or unintentionally' and 'necessarily or unnecessarily'.

"The engineers did not attend to the loose nut, though they should have done it," the Biman investigator said.

Menon said the reports of the Biman and CAAB committees had been submitted but the ministry committee was yet to send its findings.

He said in his written statement that a VVIP flight inspection began when the aircraft landed at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Nov 26.

"During the inspection, the ground engineer saw a 'status message' which read 'Oil Pressure Sensor (Left)'. Necessary rectification work was conducted following the message," the minister said.

"The pilot found that the engine oil pressure in the left engine was declining (but) the right engine was running normally when the VVIP flight was crossing Lahore.

"The engine oil pressure in the left engine significantly dropped than that in the right engine while the aircraft was crossing Kabul," he said.

According to the minister, the engine oil pressure was 30 pounds per square inch (psi) in the left engine and 60 psi in the right engine at that time.

"Following the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), the pilot immediately contacted headquarters in Dhaka and made the emergency landing in the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat. The engine oil pressure (in the left engine) was 24 psi during the landing," he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present in Parliament.

At a media briefing on Saturday on her visit to Hungary, she said that the fault in her plane had been 'merely technical'.

Menon said, "There is no scope of showing slackness in ensuring the prime minister's security. And the prime minister's security will be ensured more seriously in the future."