Four-member probe committee formed over mechanical fault in PM’s aircraft

A four-member committee has been formed to investigate the mechanical fault in the Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft carrying Prime Minister Tarique Rahman from Japan. The committee has been asked to submit its report within four working days.

The committee was formed through an office order signed by Air Commodore Md Niamul Kabir, director of Biman’s Administration and Human Resources Directorate, on Friday (October 30).

According to the order, Biman’s Chief of Planning and Scheduling will head the committee. Its other members are the Chief Engineer (Engineering Production), Deputy Chief (Flight Safety) and Manager (Legal Affairs), who will serve as member-secretary. The committee has been instructed to submit its report to Biman’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

The committee will identify the exact cause and nature of the aircraft’s technical fault, review the measures taken to ensure its airworthiness and assess the impact of the incident on flight schedules, passenger inconvenience and the airline’s institutional reputation.

It will also examine whether there was any negligence or procedural lapse on the part of those concerned and determine responsibility. The committee will make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his entourage were scheduled to return to Dhaka on Thursday (October 29) after a four-day visit to Japan.

While Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-377 was taxiing towards the runway at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, the pilot received a cockpit warning about a fault involving the aircraft’s spoilers.

The take-off was subsequently cancelled. After technical inspections and repairs, the aircraft departed for Dhaka about five hours behind schedule.