Biman flight returns to Dhaka with 114 passengers amid Nepal unrest

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying 114 passengers returned to Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon after it was denied permission to land in Kathmandu due to suspension of international flight operations amid ongoing youth protests in Nepal.

"Our BG0371 flight, operated by a Boeing 737, had to return as all international flights at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport were suspended until 12:30 am tonight," Biman spokesperson told BSS this afternoon.

The aircraft departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:30 pm as scheduled and was due to land in Kathmandu at 2:00 pm local time.

"But when the flight was about to approach the airport, it did not receive landing clearance," Biman Bangladesh Airlines' General Manager of Public Relations ABM Rawshan Kabir told BSS.

After circling in Kathmandu airspace for nearly 55 minutes, the flight eventually returned to Dhaka and landed safely at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:45 pm.

Rawshan added that 94 passengers, including the Bangladesh National Football Team, are scheduled to return to Dhaka by the returning flight.

He said Biman will arrange hotel accommodation for the stranded passengers in Kathmandu.