Passenger dies on Biman flight; probe launched over decision not to divert

Dhaka: A passenger travelling on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight to London died on December 31 after falling seriously ill, prompting questions over the crew’s decision not to divert the aircraft to a nearer airport for emergency medical care.

The incident occurred on flight BG 201, which was operating on the Dhaka–Sylhet–London route.

According to Boshra Islam, spokesperson for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the aircraft departed Sylhet as scheduled, and the passenger became ill while the plane was flying over Pakistan, near the city of Lahore.

“Instead of diverting to a nearby airport, the pilot decided to return to Dhaka, which was about three hours away at that point,” she said.

Following the incident, Biman has formed a three-member investigation committee, headed by Captain Md Enamul Haque, the airline’s chief of flight safety, to examine the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s death.

Sources familiar with the incident said that as the passenger’s condition worsened, the cabin crew made an announcement requesting medical assistance, and a doctor on board responded and provided care.

However, the doctor was unable to formally declare the passenger’s medical condition.

Despite the aircraft being significantly closer to several suitable international airports, the captain chose to return the flight to Dhaka rather than making an emergency landing elsewhere.

After the aircraft landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, an airport doctor declared that the passenger had died during the flight.