Engine Failure Forces Emergency Evacuation at Dhaka Airport

Passengers aboard a Chattogram-bound domestic flight experienced a frightening ordeal after the aircraft developed an engine fault while preparing for take-off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, prompting an emergency evacuation.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, 24 June, as the aircraft was taxiing towards the runway for its scheduled departure. According to airport and airline sources, the flight was carrying 70 passengers when a mechanical problem affected one of the aircraft’s engines. As the situation unfolded, the crew initiated emergency procedures to safeguard everyone on board.

The airline’s public relations officials said the cockpit’s monitoring system detected a fire warning indication during the aircraft’s pre-departure movement. Upon receiving the alert, the captain immediately halted the aircraft and informed Air Traffic Control, following established aviation safety protocols. The decision to stop the aircraft and begin an evacuation was taken as a precaution while the technical issue was assessed.

During the evacuation, reports indicated that confusion briefly arose among some members of the cabin crew, leading to a degree of miscommunication as passengers were instructed to leave the aircraft. The situation quickly became tense, with many travellers attempting to retrieve their hand luggage before disembarking. Such reactions contributed to moments of panic inside the cabin, although emergency personnel and airport staff worked to restore order.

As part of the evacuation process, an emergency exit door was forced open to allow passengers to leave the aircraft swiftly and safely. All 70 passengers were successfully evacuated without injury. Airport authorities confirmed that no casualties or medical emergencies were reported as a result of the incident.

The flight had originally been scheduled to depart Dhaka at 7:00 a.m. Following the emergency response, technical inspections and safety checks were carried out before the aircraft was eventually cleared for departure. The flight ultimately left the airport at around 8:00 a.m., approximately one hour behind schedule.

Airport officials said passenger safety remained the overriding priority throughout the incident. They noted that emergency procedures were implemented promptly once the warning signal appeared and that the coordinated response helped prevent the situation from escalating.

Mechanical alerts of this nature are treated with the utmost seriousness in commercial aviation. Even when a warning later proves to be precautionary or does not result in an actual fire, flight crews are required to follow strict safety protocols, including informing air traffic controllers, suspending take-off preparations where necessary, and ensuring passengers are protected before any further operational decisions are made.

The incident caused understandable anxiety among those on board but concluded without injuries, highlighting the importance of established emergency procedures and rapid coordination between flight crews and airport authorities during unexpected technical events.