Dhaka: Six officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been suspended after an inquiry into the technical problem on prime minister's aircraft found that "human failure" had caused it, a media report said on Thursday.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her entourage had to spend four hours in Turkmenistan on their way to Hungary after the Biman aircraft carrying them made an emergency landing at the Ashgabat International Airport.
Six officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been suspended over the incident, the flag carrier said in a statement.
While revealing the initial findings of the probe, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said that "human failure" has been identified as the key factor.
The civil aviation ministry, Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB), and Biman had formed three committees to investigate the incident.
The faults occurred after "nuts at the fuel line of the plane had loosened", Menon was quoted as saying by BDNews24.com reported.
"The Biman chairman said three factors were considered, whether it was a technical glitch, or environmental issue (like extreme cold or storm) or whether human factor was involved," Menon said.
"They have identified human failure factor as the key reason," he added.
The minister had vowed to identify those responsible for the incident and take action against them before the prime minister's return.
Asked how he, as a minister, is seeing the faults in the prime minister's flight, Menon said, "It's naturally a proof of Biman's inefficiency. Efforts to improve Biman's skill are always there."
"We (government) will sit and discuss," the minister said in reply to a query as to whether Biman would be overhauled.
He also said it was 'natural' that Biman would face a crisis of public confidence because of such an incident. "We will do whatever is needed to run Biman properly," he said.
"Biman's SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for travel of VVIPs will be reviewed. Changes will be made if necessary," the minister added.
