DHAKA, 2 July 2005 — At least 10 passengers of a DC-10 aircraft of Bangladesh Biman Airlines were injured slightly in an accident at the Shah Amanat International Airport in the southeastern port city of Chittagong yesterday morning.
Sources said that one of the rear wheels of the aircraft, carrying some 200 passengers from Dubai, deflated and caught fire at about 8.45 a.m. while making a landing during rain at the airport. The aircraft skidded some 200 feet away from the wet runway.
The fire of the aircraft could not spread due to rain, they said.
Six passengers were slightly injured in trying to come out of the aircraft in a hurry and four others were injured as they jumped through the windows after the accident.
The injured persons were released after first aid at the Medical Care Unit of the airport.
The remaining passengers of the aircraft were rescued safely after the accident. Air traffic at the airport remained suspended following the accident, the sources said.
Of the total passengers, 167 were from Chittagong and 33 others from Dhaka.
The reason behind the accident could not be known immediately as officials of Bangladesh Biman were not available for comment. Hearing the news of the accident, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin rushed to the port city at about 2.15 p.m. by a special helicopter from the capital.
The minister sought the assistance of the army, Chittagomg port authorities and Bangladesh Railway for the rescue operation.
Arrival and departure of all kinds of flights, including international and domestic, will remain suspended at the airport till 4 p.m. today, said airport sources.
A five-member investigation committee, headed by Habibullah Khan, chief engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority, has been formed to probe the incident.
