Dhaka, Aug 9 (V7N)– State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat has said that around 100 passengers of the stranded Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG306 have been moved to hotels in Rome, while remaining passengers are being accommodated at the airport lounge .
"Special care is being provided to sick and elderly passengers, as well as women and children, while necessary medicines have also been arranged for them," he told journalists last night.
The state minister said officials of the Bangladesh Embassy are maintaining round-the-clock contact with the airport and closely monitoring the situation . "The aircraft's repair work is underway. We are also maintaining continuous communication from Dhaka," Millat added.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines sent a team of engineers along with the required spare parts to Rome to repair the aircraft, which developed a technical fault at Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO) . The national flag carrier expects the delayed BG306 flight on the Toronto-Rome-Dhaka route to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday morning.
The aircraft, which was scheduled to depart Rome on August 7, remains grounded at Fiumicino Airport following the technical glitch, according to Biman's latest update . The airline said its engineering team and necessary spare parts were being transported to Rome aboard BG305 on August 8.
Subject to successful completion of the repair work and required technical and safety inspections, BG306 is expected to depart Rome for Dhaka at 10:00 pm local time on August 8 . The flight is expected to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 10:30 am Bangladesh time on August 9.
The disruption particularly affected Bangladeshi passport holders, who could not leave the airport due to Italian immigration restrictions. Around 174 Bangladeshi passengers were kept in a holding area, while foreign passport holders were accommodated in hotels . Biman attributed the accommodation restrictions to Italian immigration rules .
Passengers alleged that they were initially informed the Rome stopover would last about 80 minutes, but remained on board for six to eight hours with faulty air-conditioning, leaving several elderly passengers and children unwell . Essential medicines, including insulin, also remained inaccessible in checked baggage .
Biman has arranged hotel accommodation, meals and other necessary assistance for the affected passengers in Rome and reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority . The airline said passengers would continue to receive regular updates on the flight situation.
