Biman's safety standards questioned amid frequent technical glitches
Biman forms probe committee, report to be submitted within 10 working days
Highlights
- 7 Biman aircraft reported various faults last month
- Most technical issues occurred in Boeing
- The issues caused wheel detachment, fuel imbalance, malfunctioning of toilets, rise of cabin temperature, faults in engines
- Disruptions led to flight cancellations, schedule chaos, missed connections
- At least 2 Dash aircraft grounded now
- Biman operates 19-plane fleet
- 14 US-based Boeing
- 5 Canadian Dash-8 Q400
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is facing mounting scrutiny after at least 35 technical glitches disrupted flights in just two and a half months, raising urgent questions over passenger safety, engineering and maintenance standards and the future reliability of the national flag carrier.
The string of incidents, ranging from wheel detachment and fuel imbalance to engine faults and malfunctioning toilets, has forced delays, emergency returns, and even cancellations, severely disrupting scheduled flights and hampering smooth passenger services.
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Aviation experts warn that such recurring faults are tarnishing Biman's reputation and could foreshadow a major disaster if left unchecked, undermining public confidence in the airline.
"Recent repeated technical faults in Biman flights carry a serious warning. This kind of occurrence could be a precursor to a larger catastrophe, and ignoring it would be dangerous," aviation expert Wing Commander (retd) ATM Nazrul Islam told The Business Standard.
The mounting problems prompted the Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, to visit Biman headquarters on 14 August.
Under pressure from multiple fronts, the airline has also formed a four-member inquiry committee, as directed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab).
Over the past month alone, passengers travelling on routes to Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah, Madina and Rome have faced abrupt mid-air or pre-departure faults.
The incidents have hit both Boeing and Dash aircraft, the backbone of Biman's 19-plane fleet. Of the 19, at least two Dash-8 are currently grounded due to engine issues, according to Biman's Engineering department.
As most international routes (except Kolkata) rely on Boeings, the majority of faults have struck long-haul flights, as per the airline sources.
Among the recent incidents, on 10 August, a Boeing Dreamliner was grounded in Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport after a wing flap malfunction.
More than 260 stranded passengers were accommodated in hotels while spare parts had to be flown in from London. Five Biman engineers were dispatched to Italy on 12 August, and the aircraft returned to service only three days later.
Other recent cases include: On 6 August, a Bangkok-bound Boeing 737 returned to Dhaka due to engine vibration; on 7 August, an Abu Dhabi flight turned back following a toilet system malfunction; on 9 August, a Singapore-bound Boeing experienced technical failure; and on 11 August, a domestic Dash-8 flight to Chattogram (BG 615) was forced back just 20 minutes after take-off as cabin temperature rose sharply.
As the crisis deepened, Biman's flight schedule continued to be affected. On 12 August, two Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Kuwait and Dubai were cancelled due to aircraft shortages.
Such disruptions have left passengers stranded, missed international connections, and tarnished the national airline's reputation at home and abroad.
It is yet to be known exactly how many flights have been disrupted due to these technical issues.
Biman steps up, starts inquiry
In a press release issued yesterday, Biman said the four-member probe committee will review incidents between 1 July and 13 August, scrutinise maintenance and operational records, identify causes and ensure accountability.
The committee will also recommend steps to prevent a recurrence and submit its report within 10 working days. As part of accountability measures, staffing changes have already been made. Two officials were transferred, with more changes under consideration.
Biman is also reviewing its inventory management system, in consultation with Boeing, to revise its Component Services Programme and spare parts list. A tailored parts package is under consideration to align with actual operational needs, the release said.
"Most of the recent faults are technical, and their frequency has sharply risen. Authorities have taken immediate steps – increasing supervision, ensuring senior engineers oversee night shifts, and strengthening passenger safety measures," Group Captain Md Monzur-E-Alam, Biman's director of Engineering and Material Management, told TBS.
He insisted that "safety is never compromised" and that no plane flies without clearance as fully airworthy.
Denying allegations of negligence, he admitted that in "one or two cases engineers could have been more cautious" but stressed all engineers are certified and regular checks are conducted.
Group Captain Md Mukeet-ul-Alam Miah, Caab's member (Flight Standard & Regulations), told TBS that Caab is also preparing a separate report on the recent technical fault of the nation carrier.
He further confirmed that the Caab had sent surveillance teams and was working "in parallel" with the airline.
Ageing aircraft, maintenance issues
Biman's current fleet consists of 14 Boeing aircraft and 5 Canadian-made Dash-8 Q400s. The Boeing fleet includes four 737-800s, four 777-300ERs, four 787-8 Dreamliners and two 787-9 Dreamliners.
Although none of the planes are extremely old, several are over 15 years in service. Aviation experts caution that the main issue is not age but maintenance standards.
"We need to see how many times this has happened with the same aircraft. These planes are not exactly new – at least 15 years old. While they are not too old either, the quality of maintenance has become a major concern," ATM Nazrul said.
Questions are also being raised over whether these are mere technical issues or signs of deeper mismanagement and negligence.
Former Biman board member and aviation expert Kazi Wahidul Alam, said, "The major concern is whether the spare parts being imported from abroad are properly inspected for quality and validity. There must be quality control and checks on shelf life. No expired component should ever be used."
ATM Nazrul said, "The recent glitches reflect a failure in maintenance, and an immediate task force should be formed to audit the maintenance logs of the past year. It must be thoroughly examined whether any 'life-limited' parts were used beyond their designated service period."
"There are clear gaps in the coordination among the three tiers of maintenance – production, quality, and planning – and the lack of proper oversight is evident," he added.
The issue of sufficient skilled manpower within the airline has also been raised. Biman currently employs about 600 staff in its engineering division, but experts argue this is not enough.
Kazi Wahidul said, "A big question is whether there are enough skilled engineers and technicians. If work for 20 engineers is given to just five, maintaining quality becomes nearly impossible."
Sources within the airline have also pointed towards the instability within the Engineering Directorate for Biman's overall mismanagement. Frequent turnover of directors has weakened the department's capacity to enforce consistent standards, they said.
Experts also highlighted the long-standing allegations of nepotism and corruption in recruitment, including among pilots.
How Biman procures, maintains spare parts
According to Biman's Engineering Department, they collect spare parts in three ways.
First, under the Component Services Program (CSP) agreement with Boeing, the company ensures the rapid supply of necessary spare parts.
Second, based on a Tailored Parts List (TPL), Boeing determines in advance what types of parts may be required depending on the aircraft's age and usage, and those parts are stocked accordingly.
Third, there are third-party suppliers. These are Boeing-approved companies that also provide spare parts, but they must have valid International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) certification or equivalent authorisation.
Biman's Engineering Director Monzur-E-Alam told TBS, "The management of Biman's spare parts is primarily operated under Boeing's CSP. There is a list of around 260 critical components. Instead of being kept under Biman's own ownership, these parts are collected as required from Boeing's own or authorised hubs [such as Singapore, Dubai, London] in line with the agreement."
"About 80–90% of spare parts come directly from Boeing or De Havilland (for Dash aircraft). Only 10% or less are procured from local IASA-approved suppliers through tender," he added.
When questioned about the quality of the parts used for Biman, Caab confirmed that all procurement follows ICAO standards and is inspected by a regular surveillance committee.
"IASA maintains very high standards, and Bangladesh complies strictly," said Caab's Mukeet-ul-Alam.
