NN Online:
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has launched two investigation committees and laid out an action plan following the detachment of a wheel from a Dash-8 aircraft during takeoff from Cox’s Bazar on May 16.
Despite the incident, the flight safely landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The airline confirmed the issue involved the aircraft losing one of its wheels shortly after departure.
In response, Biman formed two separate three-member committees, according to a statement from the airline. One committee, headed by the Chief of Flight Safety, will investigate the safety aspects of the incident. The second, under the Engineering and Material Management Directorate, will examine technical causes, review maintenance records, and recommend preventive actions.
Both committees have been instructed to submit their findings within three working days.
Preliminary findings indicate that the wheel may have detached due to a bearing failure, the statement said. De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, the aircraft’s manufacturer, notes in its maintenance manual that bearing failure can cause wheel separation. The definitive cause will be determined following a full investigation.
Upon landing in Dhaka, Biman engineers confirmed the left-side wheel (No. 2) was missing. As a precaution, the engineering department immediately inspected all wheels on Dash-8 aircraft stationed in Dhaka.
Additionally, Biman contacted De Havilland Canada, which has agreed to dispatch a specialized technical team by May 19 to assist in the investigation.
Biman reaffirmed its commitment to strict maintenance standards and a zero-tolerance approach to safety issues, the statement added.
