US-Bangla passengers allege ordeal after Dhaka-Chennai flight delayed over seven hours
Travellers claimed they remained inside the aircraft for nearly four hours with inadequate cooling, while the airline said the air conditioning was functioning, though not at full capacity.
Highlights:
- Flight BS205 departed over seven hours late
- Passengers allege four-hour wait inside hot cabin
- Many travellers were patients seeking treatment
- US-Bangla says AC worked, but below full efficiency
Passengers on a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Dhaka to Chennai have alleged they endured hours of discomfort after the aircraft was delayed for more than seven hours, with many claiming they remained onboard for nearly four hours without adequate air conditioning.
The allegations emerged today (13 July) after passenger Samia Shatabdi described the incident in a Facebook post that has since attracted widespread attention on social media.
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According to Shatabdi, Flight BS205 was scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:45am but did not take off until 6:16pm.
She said passengers were initially told the delay was due to adverse weather. They were later informed that a technical issue was responsible, followed by another explanation citing a fuel-related problem.
While acknowledging that flight delays can sometimes be unavoidable, Shatabdi alleged the most difficult part of the experience began after passengers boarded the aircraft at around 4:40pm.
She claimed the aircraft remained on the ground until departure with inadequate air conditioning and ventilation, leaving passengers inside a hot cabin for nearly four hours before the flight landed in Chennai at around 8:30pm local time.
According to Shatabdi, many passengers on the Dhaka-Chennai route were travelling to India for medical treatment, including elderly people and children, making the conditions particularly difficult.
She further alleged that cabin crew repeatedly assured passengers the air conditioning would begin working "within five minutes", but the cooling system never functioned properly during the delay.
Shatabdi also claimed crew members later told her they had been aware of the air-conditioning problem before departure and had attempted to fix it while passengers were onboard before deciding to operate the flight and repair the system after returning from Chennai.
Responding to the allegations, US-Bangla Airlines spokesperson Md Kamrul Islam acknowledged that Flight BS205 had been delayed for multiple reasons but denied that it operated without air conditioning.
"The flight was delayed for different reasons. But operating a flight without air conditioning is not acceptable. The air conditioning was working, although it was not functioning at 100% efficiency," he told The Business Standard.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad said US-Bangla had informed the airport that one of the aircraft's two air-conditioning packs had developed a technical fault, while the other remained operational.
"US-Bangla authorities acknowledged a technical issue with one of the aircraft's two air-conditioning packs, while the other pack remained serviceable. They informed us that operating the aircraft in this condition was permissible under the applicable technical manual, although passengers experienced considerable inconvenience. We have asked the airline to provide an official clarification," Ragib told The Business Standard.
