Published: 12:27 AM, 04 July 2026
PM's advisor aboard as technical snag forces NOVOAIR emergency landing
A Cox's Bazar-bound NOVOAIR flight made a emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday evening after developing a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff.
Flight BQ-935, which departed Dhaka at 6:50 PM, was forced to circle the skies for nearly 45 minutes to burn fuel and prepare for arrival after its landing gear failed to retract.
Among the passengers on board was Humayun Kabir, the Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation, who was traveling to attend an official program. The adviser later confirmed the details of the mid-air scare.
Speaking to the media, Kabir recounted that the technical issue became apparent roughly 10 to 15 minutes into the flight.
"The landing gear was not retracting properly," Kabir said. "Despite repeated attempts, the captain was unable to pull it back. Assessing the situation, the pilot wisely decided to abort the journey and return to the capital."
The aircraft remained airborne for approximately 45 minutes as the crew managed the situation before touching down safely in Dhaka. Describing the atmosphere inside the cabin, the advisor noted that the mechanical failure triggered widespread anxiety among the passengers. "I am no aviation expert, but I believe the captain made the absolute right call by prioritizing passenger safety. However, panic naturally spread inside the cabin-the crying of children and the visible distress of the passengers made it an incredibly tense situation."
He added that the pilot gradually reduced airspeed to stabilize the aircraft for the emergency approach. "Ultimately, the aircraft landed safely. By the grace of the Almighty, a major disaster was averted."
Following the incident, Kabir called for a sweeping review of operational safety and more stringent fitness inspections for older aircraft operated by private carriers in the country.
"The regulatory bodies must tighten fitness certificates, especially for the older fleets run by private airlines," Kabir emphasized.
