Biman Bangladesh fires staff over aircraft wheel theft as safety scrutiny grows
August 22, 2025
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has fired two staff members after the carrier reported the alleged theft of 10 aircraft wheels.
The two employees were accused of handing over aircraft wheels to a rival airline without approval.
In the latest drama to impact the airline, the two employees, one said to be a supervisor in the airline’s material management department, and another a store helper, were fired on Thursday.
The theft comes as Biman Bangladesh is under increasing scrutiny following a spate of incidents on its flights in recent weeks.
Missing wheels pose problem for Biman Bangladesh Airlines
The allegations centre on the transfer of 10 used aircraft wheels to US-Bangla Airlines.
ABM Roushan Kabir, Biman’s general manager of public relations, said the wheels were intercepted before they could leave the premises, after being spotted by security staff.
Local police reportedly classified the items as “unserviceable tyres” rather than stolen property, noting that they were discovered missing from the auction shed near Shahjalal International Airport’s hangar complex on 16 August.
During questioning, the two dismissed employees admitted passing the tyres to the other airline without informing their employer.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the flag carrier, which has faced scrutiny over its maintenance practices following a series of technical faults across its Boeing fleet in recent weeks.
Several of those cases involved tyre bursts that forced cancellations and delays, heightening concerns around operational standards.
A wave of incidents for Biman Bangladesh
Biman is facing mounting scrutiny after a wave of technical failures caused widespread flight disruptions.
Recent incidents include overheating cabins on Dash-8 flights, a Dreamliner flap malfunction in Rome, and reports of more than 30 other faults ranging from engine vibration to wheel detachment.
#BREAKING: BIMAN BANGLADESH DASH 8 LOSES WHEEL AFTER TAKEOFF — LANDS SAFELY IN DHAKA
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) May 16, 2025
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dash 8-Q400 (reg. S2-AJW) operating flight BG 436 from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka lost its left inboard main landing gear wheel shortly after departure on Friday.
The… pic.twitter.com/UTf6M7sfxz
Experts warn that the frequency of glitches points to deeper maintenance and oversight issues, undermining passenger trust and safety confidence.
In response, Biman has formed a high-powered committee to investigate and pledged corrective measures, including staff reshuffling, improved spare-parts management, and enhanced training, as the carrier struggles to protect its reputation and competitiveness.
Biman Bangladesh Dash-8 landing with right front wheel missing.
— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer) May 19, 2025
📸 by Royal Bengal Aviation
Not an ad pic.twitter.com/x01N3KG5ra
According to Jago News, the carrier also owes Padma Oil Tk 2,000 crore ($165 million) for aircraft fuel.
However, just this week the airline reported an unaudited profit of Tk 937 crore ($77 million) for fiscal year 2024-25, the highest profit in the carrier’s 55-year history.
Main image: Faisal Akram / Wikimedia Commons
