Bees delay Air India flight carrying Minister Hasan Mahmud

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 14:16, Sep 16, 2019 | Updated : 14:21, Sep 16, 2019

Honeybees have descended on an Air India aircraft, delaying the flight that had already returned twice from the runway following a snag.An Air India flight from Kolkata to Agartala with Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on board was delayed for more than two hours on Sunday (Sep 15) as a swarm of bees was found in front of the aircraft while it was taxing down the runway, reports Indian media.

The plane with 136 passengers and crew members onboard the AI 743 flight was scheduled to depart at 9:40 am from Kolkata.

The bees were spotted by the pilots when the plane was moving towards the runway for take-off. The pilots stopped the aircraft as further movement could have damaged the plane and harmed the passengers if the bees were to enter inside through the engines, the Air India spokesperson told local media.

Fire services personnel were called in to tackle the problem. After checking that the bees did not enter the aircraft nor any damage was caused to the plane, the flight was given a go-ahead.

Members of a Bangladesh delegation after reaching Agartala.Photo: FacebookThe 18-member Bangladeshi delegation — including information minister Hasan Mahmud and actress Rokeya Prachi — was on its way to Agartala to attend a three-day film festival being organised by the Bangladesh government.

“Because of the delay we have requested the organisers to defer the inauguration,” Mahmud told Metro from onboard the flight.

Most members of the delegation were upset because they had to remain seated inside the aircraft for over three hours. Some complained the airline staff had kept them in the dark about the problem and handled the situation “unprofessionally”, reports Indian media.

“Had the airline replaced the aircraft that developed snag, it would have been better,” said Mahmud.

In September 2012, bees had settled on four aircraft of Jet Airways and an aerobridge within six hours. The same month an IndiGo flight was delayed by 21 minutes because bees had settled on the right-wing of the aircraft.

/srj/
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