In July and August, several Bangladesh Biman Airlines aircraft experienced repeated mechanical failures. However, the investigation committee did not hold anyone directly responsible. The probe did reveal severe mismanagement within the airline’s engineering department, a shortage of skilled personnel, a lack of spare parts, and negligence in maintenance. Additionally, the report found significant gaps in accountability within the engineering division.

The investigation committee, formed by Biman Airlines authorities, submitted its report to the Ministry of Civil Aviation last week. The report included 16 recommendations aimed at preventing future mechanical failures across the airline’s fleet, according to sources at the Ministry.

During July and August, Biman Airlines experienced numerous technical faults, mid-air emergencies, tire detachment, and emergency landings due to mechanical issues. These incidents caused major flight delays and passenger inconvenience, resulting in both a loss of regular passengers and damage to the airline’s image. In response, separate investigation committees were formed by Biman authorities and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Biman’s four-member committee submitted its findings last week.

According to the report, Biman Airlines is currently operating under an unstable condition that raises concerns regarding international safety standards. Within just two months, at least 102 flights failed to depart on time, with 63 delays attributed to engineering department faults and maintenance deficiencies. On average, two aircraft experienced mechanical problems daily during this period, ranging from faulty brake systems and hydraulic leaks to engine pressurization failures.

On August 10, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a spoiler system failure in Rome, Italy, and was immediately grounded after landing. Passengers were stranded at the airport for hours.

A rescue team was dispatched from Dhaka, taking 54 hours to arrive, during which the entire route was suspended. Similarly, on August 9, a Boeing 777-300ER in Dhaka suffered brake system failure, requiring four days to bring in emergency parts. Investigations revealed that “frequently, parts from one aircraft are used for another due to lack of stock.”

The situation on domestic routes was equally concerning. Dash-8 series aircraft faced daily technical issues during this period. On July 2, an electrical power system failure caused the cancellation of a Dhaka-Chattogram flight. On July 4, a hydraulic zero-pressure fault delayed a flight by 16 hours. On July 9, three Dash aircraft experienced simultaneous weather radar failures. On July 14, an engine generator failure caused an 8-hour delay for a Sylhet flight. On July 21, one aircraft’s pressurization system failed while another aircraft’s windshield cracked.

The report emphasizes that these incidents are not isolated accidents but are the result of continuous maintenance failures. Even on international routes, Boeing 777 and 787 series aircraft repeatedly experienced similar faults, including spoiler actuator failures, damaged wheel assemblies, and pressurization issues on routes to Dubai, Jeddah, and Toronto. On July 18, a main landing gear of a 787-9 in Dubai cracked, and due to the absence of spare wheels, a new gear had to be flown from Dhaka, causing a 30-hour delay. A similar incident occurred in Jeddah on July 23, with tires sent from Dhaka the next day.

The investigation highlighted a deep crisis in the airline’s engineering department. The average age of certified engineers is now 55, with almost no new generation of skilled engineers. Many experienced engineers have retired, and newly recruited personnel often leave for private companies or foreign assignments shortly after joining, disrupting the continuity of expertise. Maintenance quality has declined, supervision is weak, and shift coordination is inadequate. The airline’s inventory and spare parts management are outdated and primitive, with no automated tracking system. Information about which parts are used where, their expiration, or which parts are on order must be manually checked, causing delays in replacing faulty parts and subsequent flight delays.

The report identifies three core crises in the maintenance division. First, dense flight schedules leave insufficient time for routine maintenance. Second, old aircraft and excessive utilization have made technical faults inevitable. Third, a shortage of skilled engineers is driving down maintenance quality. The report concludes that the primary issue is human resources, not machinery, and structural changes are essential to resolve the crisis.

Experts noted that a “culture of impunity” has taken institutional form within Biman Airlines. When faults occur, no one takes responsibility; reports are either incomplete or investigation results are suppressed.

The report includes 16 recommendations, including rapid recruitment of skilled mechanics to ensure adequate technical staff, addressing severe shortages among certifying and non-certifying personnel, whose average age is around 55. It also calls for the effective utilization of staff according to international standards, implementation of call-on or overtime systems, regular awareness sessions, improved skill assessment and retraining programs, updated recurrent training syllabi, task-based training for non-certifying staff, formation of night maintenance teams, establishment of quality assurance and control systems, maintenance resource management training, development of technical stores, introduction of automated maintenance systems, and ensuring necessary spare parts at line stations.

Additionally, the report recommends revising flight schedules and implementing training and awareness programs focused on human factors. Workshops, balanced reward and penalty systems, and other measures should foster a culture of safety and accountability. The committee stressed that without implementing these recommendations, repeated disasters are inevitable.