Biman hijack bid: PM lauds pilot, crew members

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today lauded the “courage and intelligence” of pilot, co-pilot and cabin crew of the aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines that faced a hijack bid on February 24.

Terming them “heroes”, the premier said the pilot and other staff of the BG-147 flight saved the passengers from the hands of the “hijacker” without any damage.

“It is a rare instance in the world,” Hasina also president of the ruling Awami League said this while talking to the pilot, crew members at her Gono Bhaban residence this evening.

The pilot and crew members of the aircraft have successfully thwarted the hijack bid, PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Ashraful Alam Khokan told The Daily Star quoting the prime minister as saying.

“You’ve showed huge courage, intelligence and prudence,” she told the pilot and crew members of the Biman aircraft that made an emergency landing at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport as one of the passengers emerged as a hijacker, BSS reports.

“You’ve successfully tackled the situation with infinite courage causing no casualties and damage to the aircraft,” he said quoting the PM.

The Dubai-bound Boeing 737-800 aircraft made a force landing at the Chattogram airport around 5:41pm on Sunday after a youth named Polash Ahmed allegedly attempted to hijack the plane.

He was killed later in an eight-minute operation by military para- commandos.

Sheikh Hasina said she monitored the situation every minute during that episode and her biggest concern was the security of the passengers, pilots and crew members.

“I issued directives for safe evacuation of all passengers, pilots and crew members,” she said.