Dhaka ground delay sparks FitsAir passenger fury

More than 180 passengers travelling on a FitsAir flight from Dhaka to Colombo have alleged they were kept inside a grounded aircraft for nearly five and a half hours at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport following a technical fault, raising concerns over passenger welfare and the airline’s handling of the situation.

According to passengers, Flight 8D822 was scheduled to depart at 2:15am on 11 July. Shortly after boarding, they were informed that the aircraft had developed a technical problem.

However, instead of being allowed to disembark, the 182 passengers remained inside the aircraft for around five hours and 35 minutes before the flight eventually departed.

Several passengers described the experience as extremely distressing, alleging that they were not provided with food, drinking water or medical assistance despite repeated requests.

They said children, elderly travellers and passengers with pre-existing medical conditions, including diabetes and respiratory illnesses, were among those who suffered the most.

One passenger, Sonia, said she experienced severe breathing difficulties during the prolonged delay.

Despite repeatedly informing the cabin crew about her condition, she claimed she was not permitted to leave the aircraft and had to stand near the aircraft door for some relief.

She also alleged that no food was served until after 7:30am.
“Children, elderly passengers and those who were already unwell suffered the most,” she said.

Sonia further claimed that a passenger who wanted to cancel the journey was treated discourteously, while another member of her travel group had a bag thrown at them during the incident.

She said she required hospital treatment after arriving in Sri Lanka.

Following the experience, her travel group, “Go Girls”, has decided not to organise future tours with FitsAir.

Another passenger, Mehrin Rahman, said what was supposed to be her first solo international trip turned into a traumatic experience because of what she described as poor handling of the situation.

She eventually decided not to continue with the journey and disembarked from the aircraft.

“There was no food or refreshments provided inside the aircraft. Sitting in the same place for such a long time increased the suffering of the passengers, especially those with diabetes and other health issues,” Mehrin said.

FitsAir, however, offered a different account of the incident.

A spokesperson for the airline, Rana, said the delay was caused by a combination of runway lighting maintenance, adverse weather and security-related reasons.

He also cited logistical constraints at the airport in offloading passengers and baggage, and disputed the passengers’ claim that they had been kept on board for between five and six hours.

The incident has prompted fresh concerns over passenger rights and emergency response procedures, particularly for low-cost carriers operating from Dhaka.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is expected to look into the matter.

The New Nation has sought a more detailed response from FitsAir. Further updates are expected.