Hostage on the Tarmac: Passengers Detail Five-Hour Ordeal Aboard Delayed Dhaka Flight
Over 180 passengers endured a five-and-a-half-hour ordeal aboard a FitsAir flight from Dhaka last week. The July 11 flight, bound for Colombo, was scheduled for 2:15 AM departure but only took off at 7:50 AM. Passengers reported being trapped inside the stationary aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, experiencing significant physical and mental distress.
Many passengers alleged several individuals fell ill due to the prolonged confinement. They claimed inadequate food and assistance, alongside misconduct and rudeness from staff. Sonia Rifat, a passenger and co-founder of a women’s travel group, called the situation “utter chaos.” She stated that after a technical fault was announced, passengers were held “hostage inside the plane.”
Ms. Rifat described severe breathing difficulties and being denied permission to leave the aircraft. She alleged no food was served until almost 7:30 AM, causing distress, especially for children and elderly passengers. She also claimed passengers attempting to cancel their journey faced abusive behaviour. Upon reaching Sri Lanka, Ms. Rifat required medical treatment. Another passenger, Mehreen Rahman, found her first solo trip a “nightmare” due to the lack of food and suffering of diabetic patients. She ultimately chose not to travel.
Shahjalal airport authorities confirmed the delay. Executive Director Ragib Samad stated the flight arrived 45 minutes late at 2:00 AM. Before take-off, engineers found a technical fault with low hydraulic fluid, making the aircraft unairworthy. Mr. Samad confirmed passengers remained on board for approximately five hours, from 2:45 AM to 7:50 AM. He noted light refreshments were arranged around 6:00 AM but said no formal complaints about staff misconduct had been received.
A FitsAir spokesperson, identified only as Rana, denied liability. He claimed the delay was “only 45 minutes,” blaming runway renovation, adverse weather, and an aviation warning. Rana disputed the extended delay and cited logistical limits for offloading passengers. However, passenger photo metadata confirmed the 2:15 AM flight departed at 7:50 AM. The conflicting accounts highlight a lack of agreement on the events and passenger treatment.
