Chopper Accident: Kuwait armed forces chief, all others on board unhurt
A Bangladesh Air Force helicopter carrying the visiting Chief of General Staff of Kuwait Armed Forces Lt Gen Mohammad Khaled Al Khadher and 15 others made an emergency landing in Sreemangal yesterday.
The BAF MI-171 helicopter landed about 100 yards from the designated helipad of BGB around 10:10am, said a press release from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
After the landing, two pilots -- Wing Commander Omar and Flt Lt Mehedi -- along with the passengers came out of the chopper safely, it added.
The helicopter took off from the capital's Tejgaon around 9:20am.
Later at night, Bangladesh Army Chief Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq made a courtesy call on his Kuwaiti counterpart Lt Gen Mohammad Khaled Al Khadher at hotel Le Meridian Dhaka in the capital, another ISPR press release said. They exchanged greetings.
Khadher said the helicopter made an emergency landing due to inclement weather. He lauded the professionalism of the pilots for the safe landing.
He said the rescue team evacuated them safely within five minutes of the landing. Bangladesh army chief and other high officials were in constant communication with them, he added.
Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq said Kuwait is a friend of Bangladesh.
“Immediately after the incident, I talked with the chief of General Staff of Kuwait Armed Forces. I was very much worried. But after talking with Lt Gen Mohammad Khaled Al Khadher and seeing his high confidence, I felt assured,” the ISPR press release quoted the Bangladesh army chief as saying.
Chief of Air Staff Marshal Abu Esrar, who was also present during the courtesy call, said the force's flight safety facility is highly advanced and modern.
Kuwait Naval Force Commander Maj Gen Khaled Ahmed Abdullah and Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed, were present during the courtesy call, according to the press release.
During the courtesy call, a 10-member Kuwait delegation, including Maj Gen Anwar Jassem Al Mazidi, chief of military education department of Kuwait Armed Forces; and Maj Gen Abdullah Abdus Samad Dashti, commandant of Staff College, was also present.
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