That Rome-stuck Biman returns home

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight with 259 passengers, which remained stranded in Rome due to a technical glitch, have finally returned Dhaka today (Sunday).

Flight BG306, carrying the passengers from Toronto to Dhaka, landed safely at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 12:30pm, Bangladesh time, after departing Rome following repairs to the aircraft.

The flight left Toronto on Thursday for Dhaka and landed at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Friday for refuelling. A technical fault was detected after landing, and the aircraft was grounded after attempts to resolve the problem over nearly eight hours proved unsuccessful.

The passengers were subsequently asked to leave the aircraft and were taken inside the airport. However, as holders of Bangladeshi passports were not permitted to enter Italy, many passengers had to remain inside the airport for an extended period.

Although a lounge was arranged for the stranded passengers, it could not accommodate everyone. Some passengers reportedly had to spend the night on the floor or on chairs.

The prolonged delay caused difficulties for children, elderly passengers and those with health conditions. Some passengers also complained of delays in receiving food and difficulties in accessing essential medicines, including insulin, kept in their checked baggage.

To repair the aircraft, Biman sent a team of engineers from Bangladesh to Rome with the necessary spare parts and equipment. The team arrived in Rome at around 11:15pm on Saturday, Bangladesh time, and began repair work on the aircraft.

After the technical fault was rectified and the aircraft was cleared for operation, BG306 departed Rome for Dhaka.

Its safe arrival in Dhaka on Sunday brought an end to several days of uncertainty and hardship for 259 passengers.