Biman passengers describe 40-hour ordeal after Rome technical emergency

Dhaka: Passengers on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight described a nearly 40-hour ordeal in Rome after a technical problem forced their aircraft to make an emergency landing, with many Bangladesh-bound travelers spending the night at the airport.

Flight BG306, operating from Toronto to Rome and Dhaka, finally arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 12:30 p.m. on August 9, ending the prolonged disruption.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying 259 passengers, left Toronto on August 6 evening. After about eight hours in the air, the aircraft developed a technical problem and landed at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at around 7:20 a.m. on August 7.

Passengers said they were kept inside the aircraft for several hours after landing, at one point without air conditioning. They were later moved to the airport terminal, where many were unable to leave for hotels.

According to passengers, around 170 Bangladesh passport holders remained at the airport because they did not have the necessary visas to enter Italy. Travelers holding U.S. or Canadian passports were reportedly allowed to leave the airport and stay at hotels.

Several passengers said elderly people, children and those with medical needs faced particular difficulties. Some families also struggled to obtain essential items such as medicine, baby food and diapers.

Passenger Shahjahan Alam said travelers spent the period “like nomads,” while another passenger, Anika, said they spent much of the ordeal sitting in airport chairs without adequate rest.=

Biman said it had arranged food and necessary assistance for passengers who remained inside the airport. An airline official in Rome said the carrier had also prepared hotel accommodation, but Italian immigration authorities did not allow many passengers to leave because of visa requirements.

Engineers in Rome initially attempted to repair the aircraft, but after several unsuccessful efforts, Biman sent replacement parts and two additional engineers from Dhaka. The repair was completed on August 8, and the aircraft was cleared for flight.

BG306 departed Rome late on August 8 and reached Dhaka on August 9, bringing an end to the passengers’ extended ordeal. Biman has not yet disclosed the specific cause of the technical failure.