Staff Reporter :
Passengers on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Toronto to Dhaka endured extreme discomfort on Sunday (31 August) after a malfunction in the aircraft’s air-conditioning system left the cabin stifling for much of the nearly 18-hour journey.
Flight BG-306, with 253 passengers on board, finally left Toronto Pearson Airport at about 7:45 pm local time-more than two hours late-after airline officials cited “maintenance-related problems” for the delay.
Women, children, and elderly travelers suffered the most, with several reportedly falling ill during the long flight.
According to Biman spokesperson ABM RaoshanKabir, one of the plane’s two AC units had broken down and could not be fixed in Toronto due to a lack of required equipment.
“Since Boeing’s operating manual allows flights with a single working AC unit, the captain opted to continue to Dhaka,” Kabir explained, adding, “We deeply regret the inconvenience and sufferings caused to passengers.”
However, passengers said the situation worsen soon after takeoff.
“Initially it was only slightly warm, but within an hour the cabin became suffocating and the heat became unbearable, as there was no air conditioning at all,” one passenger said.
