A NOVOAIR flight bound for Cox’s Bazar made an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday evening after developing a technical fault shortly after takeoff, with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation Humayun Kabir among the passengers.
The airline’s flight VQ-935 departed Dhaka at around 6:50 pm. About 10 to 15 minutes into the flight, the crew detected a technical issue when the aircraft’s landing gear failed to retract properly, the adviser said.
He added that the pilot made several attempts to fix the problem but, failing to resolve it, decided to return to Dhaka as a precautionary measure.
The aircraft remained airborne for around 40 to 45 minutes to burn fuel and reduce landing weight before safely returning to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
“I am not an aviation expert, but I believe the captain made the right decision by prioritizing passenger safety,” Humayun Kabir said.
He noted that the situation caused anxiety among passengers, with several children crying and travelers visibly concerned during the flight.
Kabir explained that the aircraft stayed in the air due to the landing gear issue, allowing the pilot to prepare for a controlled and safe landing.
“By the grace of Allah, the aircraft landed safely and a major accident was avoided,” he added.
Following the incident, the adviser stressed the importance of stricter airworthiness checks for older aircraft operated by private airlines.
He said passenger safety must remain the top priority and called for regular and rigorous inspections to reduce the risk of future technical incidents.
