3 injured
An aircraft of Royal Thai Air Force carrying 15 officials yesterday skidded off the runway while landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport injuring three Thai officers.
The injuries sustained by the three officials– Capt Wing Commander Chakkapol Hirranrattana, Wing Commander Surasak Sukbang and Flight Lt Pitchaya Burrangratchahirarun — were minor, said sources of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab).
Caab officials said the injured and other officials, who came to Bangladesh on a cross-country mission, are being taken care of by Thai embassy in Dhaka. The Thai Air Force members — eight officials and seven crew members– were supposed to leave for New Delhi today.
Aircraft movement remained suspended at the airport for nearly 30 minutes after the incident, which took place at about 8:50am, Caab sources said.
The aircraft ATR-72 skidded off about 350 yards and hit a boundary wall of the airport. Its wings got smashed, seats uprooted and the cockpit damaged, witnesses said.
The reason for the accident could not be learnt immediately.
Emergency rescue team from Caab, Air Force and Biman Bangladesh Airlines rushed to the spot. However, before the rescue mission started, all 15 officials managed to walk out of the damaged plane.
Air Commodore M Shafiqul Alam, member (operations and planning) of Caab, said the aircraft is beyond repair.
Caab has already formed a four-member team headed by Flight Operation Inspector Squadron Leader (retd) Masud Akhtar Khan to investigate the accident, he said.
Besides, a team from the Thai Air force will reach Dhaka today to investigate the accident.
-With The Daily Star input
