Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Toronto-Rome-Dhaka flight BG306 was grounded at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, after a fault was detected in its pressurization system. The 256 passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft after about seven hours. Airline sources said the problem was found during a technical inspection after the plane landed in Rome, and the flight cannot depart until repairs and required safety checks are completed.

Passengers were disembarked at about 2:30 p.m. local time, but visa complications prevented their immediate transfer to hotels. Food allocated for passengers on the aircraft was supplied on the ground. One stranded passenger said they had remained inside the aircraft for a long time before being taken off around 8:30 p.m. Bangladesh time, when hotel-transfer arrangements began. The passenger also complained of insufficient assistance from airport authorities.

Biman said it is arranging to send engineers and necessary parts from Dhaka to Rome for further inspection and repairs. It has arranged accommodation, food and other support for BG306 passengers in Rome, but said the departure time for Dhaka remains uncertain. BG305, the Dhaka-Rome-Toronto service operated by the same aircraft, will also be delayed, with a new departure time set for 1 p.m. on August 8.