It was a close call for Cox’s Bazar-bound US Bangla Airlines flight BS-141 on Wednesday, as it had to make an emergency landing at Chattogram due to a nose gear failure.
The entire landing took place without any casualties and such a feat was possible owing to the pilot’s dexterous flying skills.
Captain Zakaria, a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot, who was manning the cockpit, shared his harrowing experience with Bangla Tribune.
“We have to prepare to open the nose gear when we near the final approach of the flight. However, the nose gear would not open this time,” said the captain.
“I tried several times to no avail and flew low to ask the air traffic control at Cox’s Bazar to check whether the landing gear was functioning as the cockpit monitor malfunctions sometimes.”
According to Zakaria, when they were informed that the landing gear had indeed failed to function they decided to divert to Chattogram after carrying out all the contingency plans.
Zakaria, who has clocked 7,000-flight hours during his career, said that “I have faced many a crisis during my career as a pilot. But this was the first time, I faced something like this.”
“I tried to use my training to get the passengers and crew to ground as safely as possible,” he added.
He said that reaching Cox’s Bazar and then turning to Chattogram was a good thing as half the fuel was burnt which made the aircraft lighter as well as reduced the risk of a fire.
“At the end I could not have pulled it off without cooperation from my co-pilot and the airport authorities,” said Zakaria.