Dubai: Thousands of passengers faced massive delays after a Dhaka-bound aircraft aborted takeoff early yesterday due to a technical glitch, closing Dubai airport for eight hours.
Twenty-seven passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident, which also caused cancellations and diversions of flights to and from the busy hub.
All 229 passengers and crew aboard the Biman Bangladesh airlines flight from London to Dhaka via Dubai were evacuated from the flight at 6.30am after the pilot aborted takeoff.
Gassan Amhaz, Dubai Civil Aviation (DCA) senior officer for press relations, said the wheel sustained damage due to the pressure of the brakes. With one of Dubai International Airport's two runways closed due to expansion, the accident resulted in the temporary suspension of the airport's operations.
Passengers safe
"[The] safety of passengers is our first and most important priority and I am glad it all ended relatively well. The closure of the runway for eight hours was primarily to inspect its condition and ensure that operations could be resumed. We are [now] operational ... but passengers should check with their respective airlines to confirm the status of their flights," Huraiz Bin Huraiz, DCA spokesperson said in a statement.
Dubai station manager for Biman Bangladesh, Saeed Safeer Haider, told Gulf News all flight BG006 passengers were transferred to four Dubai hotels and were due to complete their journey this morning.
Twenty-six passengers were treated at the airport medical centre, according to Dr. Ibtesam Bastaki. One passenger was sent to Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre after triage doctors at the airport determined injuries to her head and hand were moderate.
The 54-year old UK resident, Mariam Begum, sustained a laceration on her forehead which required two stitches. Begum's husband Abdul Rahman told Gulf News she was injured while trying to exit the plane.
Dubai airport resumed flights at 2pm after the closure affected 71 flights, including 36 outbound and 35 incoming flights.
Outbound flights were either cancelled or rescheduled, and the incoming flights were diverted to airports including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Kuwait and Shiraz.
Investigation under way
As the largest carrier operating out of Dubai airport, Emirates airline suffered the greatest impact. Over 20 flights were cancelled, more than 10 were diverted, and an additional 24 flights experienced long delays.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and DCA are conducting further investigations into the cause of the accident.
With additional inputs by Alia Al Theeb, Abbas Al Lawati and Ivan Gale, Staff Reporters
