Dhaka airport fire under control, smoke still billowing; probe team formed as flights resume
International and domestic flight operations have returned to norrmal.
Highlights:
- Fire at HSIA cargo village near gate 8 brought under control after 6 hours
- 37 firefighting units, air force teams rush to douse flames
- Fire fully under control by 9pm, aviation ministry says
- Govt, Biman form probe committees
- Flights suspended for hours, resumed at 9pm; all diverted flights returned
- 25 Ansar members injured
- Strong winds, chemicals fuelled blaze
- No casualties reported
A massive fire broke out in the cargo area of Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) this afternoon (18 October), prompting the Fire Service to dispatch 37 units to the scene and the airport authorities to suspend flight operations.
Read our live updates here.
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12:00am
All international and domestic flights that were diverted from Dhaka have now returned.
According to HSIA authorities, flight operations at the airport are completely normal now.
11:55pm
The intensity of the fire inside the cargo village has reduced, but the flames are yet to be fully doused.
Smoke is still coming out of the structure.
11:30pm
According to our photographer Mehedi Hasan, who is at the scene, the fire was mostly under control, but thick black and white smoke was seen billowing out of different sides of the cargo village, near Gate No. 8.
A group of firefighters were seen spraying water from the outside, while other groups of firefighters were seen entering the cargo village with firehoses to douse the flames fully.
Additional security personnel, including police, armed forces, APBn, and Ansar, were seen deployed at the scene.
10:45pm
Wind made fire control difficult at Shahjalal cargo village area: Fire Service
Strong winds made it challenging to control the massive fire that broke out at the cargo village area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Saturday afternoon (18 October), according to Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General (DG) Brig Gen Md Zahid Kamal.
Speaking to reporters in front of the import cargo complex of the airport around 10pm, he said, "It's an open area, so there was a constant supply of oxygen that kept fuelling the fire. That's why smoke was visible from a great distance — it appeared larger than it actually was."
The DG further explained that the interior of the cargo complex is divided into several enclosed sections, making it necessary for firefighters to clear each section individually.
"Some cargo stored in open spaces caught fire easily, and the wind helped it spread rapidly. However, the fire is now under control. We tried our best to ensure international and domestic flights could resume as soon as possible," he said.
The officer added, "There is no possibility of the fire spreading further. We are now completing the extinguishing process."
10:30pm
Finance ministry forms 5-member committee to assess damage
The finance ministry has formed a five-member committee to assess the overall losses caused by the devastating fire.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the committee will determine the extent of the damage and submit a report to the government as soon as possible.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has also taken special measures to ensure that import-export activities at the Dhaka Customs House continue smoothly despite the fire incident, reads the statement.
9:30pm
Biman forms 7-member probe committee
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has formed a seven-member committee to probe the fire incident.
The committee has been instructed to submit its report within five working days, identifying the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage, and those responsible, Biman said in a statement.
The airline's chief of flight safety will serve as the head of the committee. A representative from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism will also be included as a member.
The other members of the committee are the general manager (corporate safety and quality), chief engineer (quality assurance), deputy general manager (security), deputy general manager (cargo-export), and deputy manager (insurance).
9:10pm
Flight operations resume
Airport activities resumed at 9pm, the Dhaka airport authorities said in a statement.
"First flight landed at 9:06pm after resuming operation," it said.
9:00pm
Fire fully under control: Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism
The fire has been completely brought under control, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said in a statement.
"All flight operations are scheduled to resume from 9:00pm," it added.
The ministry is coordinating with all relevant agencies to ensure that all necessary measures are taken, it said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the incident will begin shortly.
"Steps will be taken to identify the source of the fire and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future," the ministry added.
8:50pm
Fires being thoroughly probed, sabotage evidence will see swift response: Interim govt
The interim government has said security services were investigating recent incidents of fire thoroughly and safeguarding lives and property, warning that any evidence of sabotage or arson would be met with a swift and decisive response.
In a statement this evening (18 October), the CA's Press Wing said, " The interim government is aware of public concern regarding some major fires in several locations across the country.
"We wish to assure all citizens that the security services are investigating each incident thoroughly and protecting lives and property with utmost vigilance."
8:30pm
Six hours has passed but fire still rages at Dhaka airport's cargo village.
7:50pm
4 hospitals in Dhaka on alert to receive patients, DGHS official says
Dr Moinul Ahsan, director of hospitals and clinics at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said that four hospitals in the capital have been placed on full alert in response to the fire at the Dhaka airport.
The hospitals are: the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital, and Kuwait Maitree Hospital.
7:35pm
Cause of fire still unknown, probe to be initiated: Adviser Bashir
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Sk Bashir Uddin, adviser for the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, said a proper investigation will be carried out to find out the cause behind the fire.
Asked whether the authorities suspect sabotage behind fire, he said no comment could be made at the moment regarding the matter.
He also urged anyone with relevant information to share it with the authorities.
7:15pm
Dhaka airport's airfield closed until 9pm
The Dhaka airport authorities has stated that the Dhaka airport's airfield will remain closed until 9:00pm.
No new flights have been diverted to Chattogram airport after eight flights were diverted earlier, it added.
7:00pm
25 Ansar members injured in Dhaka airport fire
At least 25 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) were injured while battling the massive fire.
"So far, 25 Ansar members have been injured while on duty. They were immediately taken to Combined Military Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital for treatment," said Md Golam Mowla Tuhin, commander of the Ansar (North Zone).
"Our members noticed the fire in its early stages, alerted the authorities, and bravely attempted to contain it despite the risks," he added.
Md Ashiquzzaman, deputy director and public relations officer of Ansar and VDP, said around 1,000 Ansar members deployed for airport security were actively involved in rescue and firefighting operations.
6:50pm
Riyadh-Dhaka Biman flight diverted to Sylhet
A Bangladesh Biman flight (BG-340) from Riyadh to Dhaka, carrying 396 passengers, has been diverted to Sylhet MAG Osmani International Airport at 3:31pm, airport manager Hafiz Uddin Ahmed told The Business Standard.
Meanwhile, no Dhaka-bound flights have departed from Sylhet since the fire.
Three scheduled flights were delayed until evening, leaving passengers stranded, airport authorities said.
6:30pm
Fire mostly under control, airport official says
An aircraft engineer at Dhaka airport told The Business Standard, "The massive fire is mostly under control, but flames are still burning in the area where chemicals were stored."
"The rescue operation has already begun," he added.
6:15pm
Army personnel have been deployed in the airport area to help in search and rescue efforts and maintain law and order, our correspondent reports from the spot.
5:30pm
More flights diverted to Ctg
Flights to Dhaka continue to be diverted to Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport.
Four more international flights — two operated by US-Bangla Airlines and two by Biman Bangladesh Airlines — are being diverted to Chattogram.
5:20pm
Airport authority claims that the fire has been mostly brought under control but flight suspension continues.
4:50pm
Massive damage feared
Nasir Uddin, director of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, told TBS, "We are now trying to assess the extent of cargo damage. So far, we have learned that the area where international courier service goods were stored has been severely damaged. There was also a chemical warehouse in that area, and we have heard that it has also caught fire."
Kabir Ahmed, president of the association, told TBS, "Every cargo consignment is insured, and compensation will come from there. However, it's still too early to estimate the amount of damage. We are trying to gather information."
An aircraft engineer at HSIA told The Business Standard that the fire gradually spread over time, burning down the post office. The cargo area mainly contained imported goods, including chemicals, fabrics, and other materials, the official added.
4:20pm
Which flights have been affected so far
A number of flights have been delayed or diverted due to the fire.
Batik Air's OD-163 flight from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur and IndiGo's 6E-1116 flight from Dhaka to Mumbai are waiting on the taxiway.
A US-Bangla Airlines flight from Bangkok to Dhaka has landed in Chattogram instead. An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Dhaka has landed in Kolkata.
Air Arabia's flight from Sharjah to Dhaka also landed in Chattogram. Meanwhile, a Cathay Pacific Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Dhaka is circling in the sky after failing to land.
In addition, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Saidpur to Dhaka has diverted and landed in Chattogram. Similarly, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Chattogram to Dhaka returned to Chattogram after takeoff.
4:00pm
ISPR issues statement on multi-agency firefighting efforts at Dhaka airport
Immediately after the incident, the airport's fire section, the Bangladesh Air Force fire unit and other relevant agencies rushed to the spot and jointly began efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a message to the media that the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the fire service and two fire units of the air force are working to extinguish the fire.
3:30pm
Fire breaks out at Dhaka airport cargo zone
A fire broke out in the cargo village of gate no 8 of the Dhaka airport, said Talha Bin Jashim, an official of the fire service.
The fire service said it was alerted at 2:30pm and firefighters arrived at the scene at 2:50pm.
No casualties have been reported so far.
