The Authorities will file a criminal case against accused persons in preliminary investigation to further investigate into any attempted sabotage with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s flight that made an emergency landing on her way to Hungary last month.
“A case will be filed against those who have been accused in the three probe reports so that investigators can determine whether it was an attempted sabotage.” said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon.
He made the statement in a press conference held at the ministry in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier in the morning, the committee formed by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) had submitted probe reports over the Prime Minister’s flight’s emergency landing to the Minister.
“The probe has found human “fault” that led to the incident but it is not clear whether the act was intentional,” Menon said adding, “The incident was result of negligence but we have to find out if it was intentional”.
The minister however said that in the case, if any prove of sabotage is found, steps would be taken to ensure the highest punishment as per the law against the persons involved.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines have already suspended nine of its officials for their negligence to duty that led to emergency landing of the Premier’s Hungary flight on November 27.
Minister Menon said he will summarise the findings and recommendations of the findings and meet with the Prime Minister within a couple of days to determine the next course of action.
He said the probe reports will also be handed over to the Prime Minister.
Replying to a query, he said apart from the officials suspended, names of some more people might come up. He, however, did not disclose any names. “We are examining whether criminal case will be filed against those already suspended,” he added.
On November 23, a VVIP flight carrying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to make an emergency landing at Ashgabat International Airport in the capital of Turkmenistan on her way to a UN Water Summit in Budapest, Hungary.
The plane was carrying 99 passengers including the Premier, four cockpit crew, 20 cabin crew and four aircraft engineers.
The fuel pressure of the aircraft was abnormally falling due to a technical glitch, according to a Biman official.
Sources said there were some technical glitches when the aircraft was flying over the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border. After noticing the rapid decline in fuel pressure, the captain of the aircraft decided to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport at Ashgabat International Airport of Turkmenistan.
The aircraft safely landed at Ashgabat airport for inspection and repairs. Four onboard flight engineers examined the engine and discovered a loose nut in the lubricant oil system. The engineers tightened the nut and replaced the lubricant oil. After completing the repairs, the captain operated a test flight for a final check-up. The entire procedure took a little over four hours.
