Aircraft Operated by Biman Experiences In-Flight Technical Issue, Forcing Return Trip to Bangkok from Myanmar
On August 9, 2025, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-388) to Bangkok was forced to return to Dhaka due to a technical malfunction, marking the latest in a series of engine issues with the airline's Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 registered S2-AFL, had a known history of engine problems and had undergone extensive repairs. Despite a successful test flight on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route on Monday, the aircraft encountered unusual engine vibrations shortly after takeoff over Myanmar's airspace.
The flight, which departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:06pm, carried 146 passengers. The pilot decided to return to Dhaka as a safety precaution, landing safely at 1:21pm. The affected passengers were accommodated on a replacement Boeing 777.
This incident is not an isolated case for Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Over the past two months, at least 12 flights have been delayed due to technical problems, raising concerns about fleet maintenance and safety protocols at the airline.
While there have been no publicly reported accidents or crashes involving Biman’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft specifically related to these engine issues, the recurring engine issues have caused operational disruptions and highlight ongoing reliability challenges with the specific aircraft in Biman’s fleet.
As a result, Biman has been taking precautionary measures such as test flights, grounding for repairs, and returns to base to ensure passenger safety. However, the incidents demonstrate a pattern of vigilance in response to engine anomalies but also raise questions about the aircraft’s ongoing maintenance and operational readiness.
The replacement Boeing 777 departed for Bangkok at 6:02pm and successfully completed the journey. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has not yet commented on the specific cause of the technical fault or the ongoing maintenance of its Boeing 737-800 fleet.
[1] Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 737-800 Faces Engine Issues [2] Biman Flight Forced to Return to Dhaka Due to Engine Issues [3] Biman’s Boeing 737-800: A Troubled History [4] Biman’s Ongoing Engine Problems: A Cause for Concern [5] No Reported Accidents or Crashes Related to Biman’s Boeing 737-800 Engine Issues
- Media outlets across the 'general-news', 'finance', and 'aviation' sectors have reported on the recurring engine problems experienced by Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Boeing 737-800 aircraft, causing concerns about the airline's fleet maintenance and safety protocols.
- The airline recently faced another engine-related issue on August 9, 2025, when flight BG-388 bound for Bangkok was forced to return to Dhaka after experiencing unusual vibrations.
- With at least 12 flights delayed over the past two months due to technical problems, questions have arisen about the 'lifestyle' and travel impact on the airline's passengers, as well as the maintenance of the specific aircraft model in Biman's fleet.
- Although there have been no officially reported 'accidents' or 'crashes' linked to the engine issues affecting Biman's Boeing 737-800 planes, the persistent engine problems have led to operational disruptions, emphasizing ongoing reliability challenges with this aircraft model in the airline's inventory.
