Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight BG349, en route to Saudi Arabia, had to return to Dhaka and make an emergency landing after a crack was discovered in the windshield of the Boeing 787-9 mid-flight.
The departure from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) occurred around 5:30 pm, and the aircraft safely returned at approximately 8:00 pm on Saturday.
With 285 passengers on board, the pilot in command, Tania Reza, successfully executed the emergency landing, according to Tahera Khondokar, General Manager (Public Relations) at Biman.
The flight, destined for Dammam, encountered the windshield crack two hours into the journey while in Indian airspace. After consulting with the air traffic control at HSIA, the captain opted to return to Dhaka.
All passengers were promptly provided with hotel accommodations, and they were later flown to Dammam on another Biman flight at around 11:00 am the following day.
While rare, a senior pilot from the national flag carrier emphasized the gravity of midair windshield cracks. Nevertheless, the pilot in command expertly managed the situation, ensuring a safe landing.
The Biman authorities have notified Boeing about the need for a replacement windshield. It’s worth noting that in 2022, a Boeing 737-800 of Biman was grounded in Malaysia due to a similar issue with its windshield.