A large aircraft of Biman struck a parked jet of GMG airlines before its take-off run at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and damaged a section of the jet’s tail late Friday night.
A section of the left wing of the Biman’s Boeing 747 jumbo jet was damaged in the accident, but none of the 430 passengers on board the flight was injured.
“The impact jolted the aircraft’s passengers and drew a number of emergency vehicles,” said a Biman official who witnessed the incident around midnight.
The Biman authority later operated the flight to Riyadh on Saturday afternoon along with passengers after the aircraft’s left wing was repaired.
Biman took the Boeing 747 on wet lease basis, and under the leasing arrangement, the lessor provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) support to a carrier or the lessee, who pays by hours operated.
Sources in the civil aviation authority said the Biman aircraft crossed the demarcation line after being tugged by a pushcart and its left wing smashed the vertical stabiliser and left-end elevator of GMG’s parked Boeing 767 aircraft.
The engines of an aircraft become fully operational after a pushcart tug the aircraft to a certain distance.
The sources also said the accident might have happened due to a miscommunication between the 747’s crew members and pushcart operator or engineers.
Biman officials said the aircraft’s crew members and engineers are provided by the lessor as per the wet lease, and pushcart operator does his duty as per the direction of an engineer, who maintains communication with the flight’s cockpit crew during the movement.
Asif Ahmed, director (marketing & communication) of GMG Airlines, said “It was an accident.” Asked about the damage and loss, he said their engineering section was preparing a list of damage to the jet.
Managing Director of Biman Air Commodore (retd) Muhammad Zakiul Islam told The Daily Star yesterday that a strong committee has been formed to investigate the reasons behind the accident and assess the damage of both the aircraft.
“It may take the committee around a week to complete the investigation,” he added.
The Biman MD also said since the lessor has insurance for the aircraft, the insurance company will arrange compensation for GMG.
Asked if the fault lies with the ground handling staff of Biman then who is going to compensate, he said that everything will become clear after the investigation.
-With The Daily Star input
