Bid to ‘hijack’ Biman aircraft foiled, suspected hijacker held

Foiling the alleged bid to hijack a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft, members of joint forces arrested the suspected hijacker at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram on Sunday evening.

Intelligence sources said a joint team of the Para-commando wing of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Rapid Action Battalion and police conducted a drive at the aircraft and held the suspected hijacker who was also injured in the operation, reports UNB.

A crewmember who was reportedly held hostage by the man was also rescued.

Earlier, all the 142 passengers and pilots of the Dubai-bound flight from Dhaka were evacuated from the aircraft safely, said Shakil Miraj, Biman general manager (Public Relations).

He said the Dubai-bound flight took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after 5pm and it made the landing at the Chattogram airport around 5:40pm.

Biman Manager (PR) Tasmin Akhter said the flight made the emergency landing suspecting a passenger to be a hijacker.

Later, members of Rab, Army, Air Force and police cordoned off the aircraft.

Meanwhile, officer-in-charge of Patenga Police Station in Chattogram Abul Quashem said two bullets were fired in the aircraft.

Contacted, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told UNB around 7:10pm that they were still not clear what actually happened in the aircraft.

Earlier, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mohibul Haque told UNB all the passengers were evacuated from the aircraft following the suspicious behaviour of a passenger.

He also said two crew members were talking to the suspected man.