It could have ended in disaster—but thanks to Captain Jamil Billah’s steady hands and sharp instincts, 71 passengers on board a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight walked away safely yesterday (16 May).
Flight BG436, heading to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar, had just taken off when airport officials noticed something alarming: a wheel from the aircraft’s left landing gear had fallen off. The plane, unaware of the issue, continued toward the capital.
As the aircraft neared Dhaka, Captain Billah flew low over Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport so air traffic controllers could take a closer look. Once the missing wheel was confirmed, he declared an emergency. What followed was an hour of tension in the sky—until, at 2:22pm, he landed the plane on one side of its landing gear with remarkable control.
All passengers and crew were safe. No injuries were reported.
Biman’s General Manager (Public Relations) ABM Rawsan Kabir praised the captain, his co-pilot Zayed, and the cabin crew for their professionalism and composure. Passengers also expressed their gratitude to the crew after landing.
With more than 8,000 hours of flying experience and a background in flying Boeing 737s and 787 Dreamliners, Captain Jamil Billah showed why experience—and calm under pressure—matters.
Flight operations at the airport remained normal. An investigation into the incident is now underway.