A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight bound for Dammam was forced to return to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) just one hour after take-off due to a mechanical issue.

The BG-349 flight departed Dhaka at 3:33pm on Monday, July 28, en route to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. However, after approximately one hour in the air, the pilot made the decision to turn back and safely landed back in Dhaka at 4:33pm.

According to Biman sources, the aircraft involved was a Boeing 777-ER, with a seating capacity of 450 passengers. The flight was nearly full at the time of departure.

Al Masud Khan, Manager of the Public Relations Department at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told reporters that the pilot received a distress signal related to cabin pressure during the flight.

As a precautionary measure, and prioritising passenger safety, the pilot decided to return to Dhaka without proceeding further.

“There was no risk to passenger safety at any point,” Khan emphasised. “The pilot followed standard protocol and made the correct decision to ensure a safe landing.”

Following the incident, passengers were disembarked and later re-accommodated on another Biman flight to Dammam.

Meanwhile, the aircraft was thoroughly inspected by Biman’s engineering team.

“All systems have been checked and found to be in order,” said Khan. “The plane is fit for operation and is scheduled to fly again tonight.”