Biman's Toronto-Dhaka flight stranded in Italy for over 7 hours after technical fault
Around 260 passengers remain onboard as aircraft undergoes repairs; travellers urge immediate intervention
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Toronto to Dhaka reportedly remained stranded at an airport in Italy for more than seven hours today (7 August) after developing a technical fault during a scheduled refuelling stop, according to passengers.
Flight BG306, carrying around 260 passengers, landed in Italy around 7:20am local time for refuelling after departing Toronto at about 5pm local time on Thursday, passengers told The Business Standard.
After landing, passengers were informed that the aircraft had developed a technical problem and required repairs. As of around 1:30pm local time, the aircraft was still on the ground, with no certainty over when the flight would resume, they said.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Shariful Islam, one of the passengers, said many travellers, including children and elderly people, had become unwell after remaining onboard for hours.
"There are many passengers here. Children and elderly people are feeling sick. We have not been allowed to leave the aircraft or enter the terminal," he told TBS.
He urged the airline and the government to intervene immediately.
"We request the managing director of Biman and the government to take urgent action. People are increasingly falling sick in the heat and suffocation," he said.
According to passengers, the aircraft was scheduled to refuel in Italy before continuing its journey to Dhaka.
The Business Standard could not independently verify the cause of the reported technical fault or the number of passengers onboard.
Attempts to contact Biman Bangladesh Airlines authorities for comment were unsuccessful as General Manager (PR) Boshra Islam did not answer repeated calls from the correspondent.
