A pilot of Biman Bangladesh Airlines was detained by Saudi immigration authorities at Jeddah Airport on Tuesday night, September 16, after arriving in the country without a passport.

The pilot, Captain Muntasir Rahman, had flown a Boeing 777 carrying passengers from Dhaka to Jeddah. Upon arrival, immigration officials questioned him and subsequently withheld him for attempting to enter Saudi Arabia without the required travel documents.

Airline sources confirmed that Captain Muntasir was later released from airport custody and taken to a hotel under the supervision of Biman authorities on Wednesday morning.

His passport, which he reportedly left behind at home, was sent on a subsequent Biman flight later that evening.

Biman’s General Manager (Public Relations), Boshra Islam, told Jago News that the issue was the result of an oversight by the pilot. “He forgot to carry his passport. He is now at a hotel in Jeddah under the airline’s care, and his passport has already been dispatched,” she said.

The airline also clarified that the incident did not disrupt passenger services or affect the flight schedule.