Pilot Praised for Safe Landing After Aircraft Loses Wheel Mid-Air

Swift Action in the Face of Crisis

On 16 May, what could have been a tragic aviation disaster turned into a remarkable story of skill and composure. Captain Jamil Billah, pilot of Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG 436, executed a flawless emergency landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the aircraft lost a wheel mid-air. All 71 passengers and crew members emerged unharmed.

The flight departed from Cox’s Bazar International Airport at 1:17 PM, heading toward the capital. Moments after takeoff, the airport’s control tower noticed that one of the left-side main landing gear wheels had detached and fallen. At that time, the aircraft’s onboard sensors had yet to register the issue.

Calm Under Pressure

Upon receiving the warning from Cox’s Bazar Air Traffic Control, Captain Billah remained calm and quickly assessed the risk. As the aircraft approached Dhaka, he performed a low fly-by to allow airport authorities to visually confirm the missing wheel. Once confirmed, he declared an emergency and coordinated closely with Dhaka’s air traffic controllers.

Airport authorities, supported by the fire and emergency services, mobilized swiftly in anticipation of a high-risk landing. At 2:22 PM, the aircraft, tilted to one side due to the imbalance, landed smoothly and safely on the runway. The maneuver, executed under extreme pressure, demonstrated exceptional piloting.

Praise for Pilot and Crew

Passengers praised the professionalism and efficiency of the crew, expressing gratitude to Captain Jamil Billah, his co-pilot Zayed, and the cabin staff for keeping everyone calm and safe throughout the ordeal.

ABM Rawshan Kabir, General Manager of Public Relations at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, praised Captain Billah and his team for their remarkable expertise, crediting their calm and skilled handling for preventing any injuries.

Captain Rajib Uddin, Chief Flight Instructor at Next Air Academy, also commended the pilot’s outstanding performance. “Training can prepare you, but remaining calm and making the right decision in real time is what sets great pilots apart,” he remarked.

Veteran Pilot With Proven Experience

Captain Jamil Billah brings with him over 8,000 hours of flight experience and has previously served as First Officer on Boeing 737s and 787 Dreamliners. Aviation insiders credit his swift judgment and extensive experience for preventing what could have been a catastrophic accident.

A senior Biman pilot, who requested anonymity, explained that the Dash 8-400 aircraft typically has six wheels—two on the front and two each on both sides at the rear. Losing one of the left wheels posed a serious challenge. “Had the remaining left wheel also been compromised, the risk would have escalated significantly,” he noted.

Investigation Underway

Following the emergency landing, Biman Bangladesh Airlines grounded the aircraft and moved it to a hangar. Captain Enamul Haque Talukder, the airline’s chief of flight safety, is leading a four-member committee that will investigate the incident. Authorities have instructed the team to submit a full report within 15 working days.

Airport operations continued uninterrupted after the landing, and Biman’s engineering department has already begun examining the aircraft to determine the cause of the wheel detachment.

Watch a video here: