178 passengers stranded as Biman flight faces mechanical glitch in Dubai

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight was grounded at Dubai International Airport on Tuesday night due to a mechanical glitch, leaving 178 passengers temporarily stranded.

Flight BG-248, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was scheduled to depart for Dhaka via Sylhet at 12:05am local time. However, a routine inspection before takeoff identified a technical issue, forcing the airline to suspend the flight for safety reasons.

“We detected the fault during a routine pre-flight inspection. To ensure passenger safety, the aircraft has been grounded,” said Saqia Sultana, Biman’s Regional Manager in Dubai.

Following the disruption, 175 passengers were accommodated in nearby hotels, while three passengers without valid visas were kept in the airport lounge. The airline has also arranged food and other necessary services for all affected passengers.

A separate Biman flight from Dhaka carrying the required spare parts is expected to arrive in Dubai on Wednesday night. Once repairs are completed, the aircraft is expected to depart for Dhaka via Sylhet, airline officials said.

Passengers voiced concern over the uncertainty and inconvenience caused by the delay.

“We boarded the aircraft on time, but were informed of a technical problem before takeoff,” said Abdul Ahad Jihadi, a passenger from Sylhet. “Now we are in a hotel, unsure when we will be able to fly home.”

Habib Ahmed, a passenger from Abu Dhabi, said the delay had created significant difficulties for many on board. “I chose this flight to reach Dhaka quickly, but now women, children, and elderly passengers are facing hardship due to the long wait,” he said.