The Terrible Disaster of US Bangla 211

Summary

US Bangla Flight 211, bound for Kathmandu, faced a series of critical mishaps due to the captain's erratic behavior and lack of preparation. Amidst poor visibility and fog, the disoriented crew, including a first-time female pilot, struggled with the challenging approach. The captain's distraction, including smoking and an emotional outburst, led to a series of procedural errors, ultimately resulting in a tragic crash with 51 fatalities.

Takeaways

• ✈️ US Bangla Flight 211 was a tragic flight from Dhaka to Kathmandu, where the plane crashed due to a series of errors and miscommunications.
• 👩‍✈️ First Officer Prithula Rashid, the first female pilot of US Bangla Airlines, was flying the challenging Kathmandu approach for the first time under the supervision of an experienced captain.
• ⛈️ Poor weather conditions with low visibility and fog added to the difficulty of the approach, which is already complicated by the airport's location in a valley surrounded by mountains.
• 😡 Captain Abid Sultan exhibited erratic behavior and violated cockpit rules, showing signs of stress and anger, which affected the cockpit environment negatively.
• 🚭 Captain Sultan smoked in the cockpit, disregarding safety protocols, and his mental state was a cause for concern, with a history of depression.
• 🛫 The flight crew failed to follow proper procedures, including not reviewing the landing checklist thoroughly and not ensuring the landing gear was down before landing.
• 🔄 A critical oversight was made when the HOLD pattern was not removed from the flight management system, causing the plane to deviate from the correct approach path.
• 🚨 The crew's lack of situational awareness and the captain's poor decision-making led to a series of incorrect turns and altitude adjustments, putting the plane in dangerous positions.
• ⚠️ The ground proximity warning system alarms were ignored or mishandled, contributing to the pilots' failure to correct the plane's path in time.
• 💥 The final attempt to land was made at a dangerously steep angle and high speed, resulting in the plane skidding off the runway, crashing, and catching fire, with a high loss of life.

Q & A

What was the final destination of US Bangla Flight 211?

The final destination of US Bangla Flight 211 was Kathmandu Airport in Nepal.

Why was landing at Kathmandu Airport considered challenging?

Landing at Kathmandu Airport was challenging due to its location in a narrow bowl-shaped valley surrounded by tall Himalayan mountains, which required special training and navigation skills.

What was significant about First Officer Prithula Rashid's role on this flight?

First Officer Prithula Rashid was the first female pilot of US Bangla Airlines and this was her first time attempting the tricky approach into Kathmandu.

What was Captain Abid Sultan's background, and what was his relationship with Kathmandu route?

Captain Abid Sultan was a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot with over 22 years of flying experience and more than 100 flights to Kathmandu, making him well-acquainted with the route.

How did Captain Sultan's behavior during the flight deviate from standard procedures?

Captain Sultan violated the Sterile Cockpit Rule by engaging in non-essential conversations, showing aggressive behavior, and smoking in the cockpit, all of which are against safety protocols.

What was the condition of Captain Sultan's mental health, and how did it affect his performance?

Captain Sultan had a history of depression and had been removed from active duty in the Bangladesh Air Force due to a psychiatric assessment. His mental state during the flight was unstable, which affected his decision-making and performance.

What was the error made by the pilots when they were approaching Kathmandu Airport?

The pilots forgot to remove the HOLD pattern that was programmed into the computer after being cleared to approach the runway directly, leading the plane to follow an incorrect path.

Why was the landing gear of the aircraft a critical issue during the approach?

The landing gear was not lowered despite the captain's incorrect statement that it was down. This was discovered only when the landing gear unsafe alarm went off, posing a significant safety risk.

What was the role of the cross-wind in the accident sequence?

The strong cross-wind pushed the plane further to the right, causing it to drift off course. The pilots, flying manually, failed to correct for this cross-wind, leading the plane further away from the intended approach path.

How did the pilots' confusion and the ATC's instructions contribute to the final moments of the flight?

The pilots' confusion about their location and the ATC's instructions led to a series of incorrect turns and altitude adjustments, culminating in a desperate attempt to land on Runway 20 from an unsuitable position and angle, resulting in the crash.

What was the final outcome of US Bangla Flight 211, and how many casualties were there?

US Bangla Flight 211 crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of both pilots, two cabin crew members, and 47 passengers. Only those seated on the right side or in the front of the plane survived.

Outlines

00:00

🛫 Approaching Disaster: US Bangla Flight 211

The script opens with a dramatic scene of a US Bangla plane approaching Kathmandu airport's runway 20 in poor visibility due to thick fog. Alarms in the cockpit warn of an imminent danger as the plane is too low and not aligned with the runway. The captain's desperate attempts to correct the course fail, and the plane veers off track, narrowly missing the ATC tower. The narrative then shifts to introduce First Officer Prithula Rashid, the first female pilot of US Bangla Airlines, who is about to attempt the challenging Kathmandu approach for the first time, under the supervision of Captain Abid Sultan, a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot with extensive experience.

05:06

🌩 Turmoil in the Cockpit: Emotional and Behavioral Issues

Captain Sultan's behavior is erratic and aggressive, as he angrily interacts with the operations staff over the radio, demanding a written explanation for inquiries about fuel onboard. He also inappropriately addresses First Officer Rashid with endearing terms despite his earlier anger, creating a conflicting atmosphere. The captain's mental state is further highlighted by his breakdown over a complaint filed by another female pilot, Lamia, whom he had a rumored relationship with. His emotional state deteriorates, culminating in him lighting a cigarette inside the cockpit, a severe breach of safety protocols. The script also touches on the broader issue of pilots' reluctance to seek mental health treatment due to career concerns.

10:06

🛬 Missteps and Miscommunications During Approach

As the flight nears Kathmandu, Captain Sultan, still emotionally distressed, begins the approach briefing without the necessary charts, relying on First Officer Rashid's instead. He fails to conduct a complete briefing, skipping critical steps due to complacency. The first officer, being new to the route, is unable to identify any issues. The pilots are further distracted by the captain's continued emotional outbursts and the need to remove a dropped cigarette from the cockpit floor. The plane is handed off to Kathmandu Approach, who instructs a descent and then clears the flight to approach the runway directly, bypassing a previously assigned hold, which the pilots forget to remove from the flight management system.

15:09

🚨 Confusion and Crisis: Erratic Flight Path and ATC Interactions

The plane, still following the incorrect hold pattern due to unremoved computer inputs, receives warnings from ATC about its unusual course. Captain Sultan's attempts to correct the path are hindered by his manual flying, which fails to account for cross-winds. The pilots also overlook the landing checklist, with the captain falsely confirming the landing gear's position. As the plane drifts further off-course, ATC clears them to land on any runway, but the captain's confusion and incorrect turns put another aircraft at risk. The situation escalates as the pilots struggle to locate the runway and the plane's altitude and speed become dangerously uncontrolled.

20:09

💥 Tragic Conclusion: The Final Moments of US Bangla Flight 211

In the script's final moments, the pilots spot the runway but are in no position to land safely. Captain Sultan, in a desperate bid to end the ordeal, attempts a sharp turn to align with the runway, causing the plane to dive steeply and land at high speed with only the right landing gear touching down. The aircraft skids off the runway, crashes through the airport's perimeter, and comes to rest in a field where a fire erupts shortly after. The tragic outcome is the loss of both pilots, cabin crew, and 47 passengers, with survivors mostly from the right side or front of the plane.

Keywords

💡Sterile Cockpit Rule

The Sterile Cockpit Rule is a regulation that prohibits pilots from engaging in non-essential conversations during critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing. This rule is in place to ensure that pilots maintain focus on the task at hand and minimize distractions, which is crucial for flight safety. In the script, Captain Sultan violates this rule by engaging in angry conversations with the Operations staff, which sets a tone for his unprofessional behavior and potential negligence throughout the flight.

💡First Officer

A First Officer is the second-in-command on an aircraft, typically responsible for assisting the Captain and taking on specific flight duties. In the context of the video, First Officer Prithula Rashid is a young, inexperienced pilot who is flying into Kathmandu for the first time. Her role is significant as she is the one who should ideally challenge the Captain's decisions or actions, but in this case, she remains silent due to his seniority and aggressive behavior.

💡Approach Briefing

An approach briefing is a critical pre-landing procedure where pilots discuss and prepare for the landing phase of the flight. It includes reviewing the approach chart, understanding the airport layout, and discussing potential challenges. In the video, Captain Sultan fails to conduct a complete approach briefing, which is a major oversight considering the complexity of landing in Kathmandu, contributing to the confusion and errors that follow.

💡VOR Approach

A VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range) approach is a type of instrument approach that allows aircraft to navigate using radio signals from ground stations. It is particularly important in poor visibility conditions. In the script, the pilots are expected to follow a VOR approach, but they fail to correctly execute it, which is a key factor in the plane's deviation from the correct flight path.

💡Cross-Wind

A cross-wind is a wind that blows across the intended direction of an aircraft's flight. It can significantly affect the aircraft's trajectory, especially during takeoff and landing, requiring pilots to make adjustments. In the video, the strong cross-wind from the left is not adequately accounted for by the pilots, contributing to the plane's drift off the intended approach path.

💡ATC (Air Traffic Control)

ATC is responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic. They provide pilots with crucial instructions regarding flight paths, altitude adjustments, and other navigational details. In the video, ATC plays a critical role in trying to guide the pilots of US Bangla 211 back on course, but the pilots' confusion and incorrect actions lead to miscommunications and increased danger.

💡Landing Gear

The landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft, which is essential for takeoff, flight, and landing. It must be properly deployed before landing to ensure the aircraft's safe contact with the ground. In the video, a critical error is made when the captain falsely confirms that the landing gear is down without verifying it, which could have catastrophic consequences if not caught in time.

💡Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)

The GPWS is a safety system that alerts pilots when there is a risk of flying too close to the ground. It is designed to prevent controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. In the video, the GPWS alarms go off due to the pilots' incorrect maneuvers, indicating how close the plane is to a potentially fatal crash.

💡Bank Angle

Bank angle refers to the tilt of an aircraft around its longitudinal axis. Excessive bank angles can lead to loss of control or structural stress on the aircraft. In the video, the pilots execute a sharp and abrupt right turn with a bank angle reaching up to 45 degrees, which is a high-risk maneuver, especially when combined with high descent rates.

💡Runway Excursion

A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft leaves the designated runway area during takeoff or landing. This can result from various factors, including pilot error, mechanical failure, or environmental conditions. In the video, the plane experiences a runway excursion after touching down with only its right landing gear and at an improper angle, leading to a skid off the runway and subsequent crash.

Highlights

US Bangla Flight 211 approaches Kathmandu airport in thick fog with poor visibility.

Captain Abid Sultan, a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot, is flying with First Officer Prithula Rashid, the first female pilot of US Bangla Airlines.

Captain Sultan displays erratic behavior and violates Sterile Cockpit Rule by engaging in non-essential conversation.

Captain Sultan's past history of depression and a psychiatric assessment in 1993 is revealed.

Captain Sultan and First Officer Rashid fail to properly prepare for the challenging Kathmandu approach.

The flight遗忘s to remove a HOLD pattern from the flight management system, leading to an incorrect turn.

Captain Sultan lights a cigarette in the cockpit, disregarding safety protocols.

The pilots miss the correct approach path due to distraction and confusion, causing the plane to drift off course.

The aircraft's landing gear is not deployed despite the captain's confirmation, leading to a dangerous situation.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) clears the flight for an unexpected runway due to the pilots' confusion.

The plane narrowly avoids a collision with another aircraft due to the captain's disoriented maneuvers.

Captain Sultan, under stress, attempts a dangerous and abrupt turn to align with the runway.

The plane touches down with only its right landing gear, causing it to skid off the runway and crash.

The tragic outcome of the flight results in the loss of both pilots, cabin crew, and 47 passengers.

Survivors are primarily those seated on the right side or in the front of the plane.

Transcripts

As a US Bangla plane approaches runway 20  at Kathmandu airport, alarms shriek in the  

cockpit—"Too Low. Pull Up!" The weather is  unforgiving—thick fog surrounds Kathmandu,  

and visibility is poor. The runway appears at the  very last moment, but the aircraft is not aligned,  

they are descending too fast, and they are  perilously close to the ground. The captain  

desperately tries to correct the course, but the  plane suddenly veers off track. Within seconds,  

the plane flies dangerously over the domestic  terminal, hurtling towards the ATC tower just 100  

meters away. Inside, eight controllers freeze in  terror, while 71 passengers onboard the plane and  

hundreds in the terminal remain blissfully unaware  of the catastrophe closing in. Disaster seems  

inevitable… What went wrong? Let's find out… This is the story of US Bangla Flight 211  

DHAKA, Bangladesh. First Officer Prithula Rashid is the first  

female pilot of US Bangla Airlines. She’s just  25, and she has already amassed 390 flight hours  

of experience. And today she’s going to add a new  feather to her cap. She’s about to fly the tricky  

approach into Kathmandu for the first time. The Kathmandu Airport in Nepal is a notoriously  

challenging place to land as it is situated  in a narrow bowl-shaped valley. Pilots have  

to navigate past the tall Himalayan mountains and  they require special training to land there.  

To provide her with that training, she is  accompanied by 52 year old Captain Abid Sultan.  

He’s a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot with  over 22 years of flying experience. He is also  

an instructor for the airline. And with more  than 100 flights to Kathmandu under his belt,  

he is well-acquainted with the route. There are 67 passengers on board US Bangla  

211, most of them Nepali and Bangladeshi.  While the two pilots await taxi clearance,  

the two cabin crew members complete the  passenger safety briefing. This plane,  

though, is going to be anything but safe. First officer Rashid looks excited. It’s a  

big day for her - she’s been looking forward  to the challenging landing. But to her left,  

things aren’t looking too good. She notices that Captain Sultan is not looking  

well. He looks very agitated and he is stressed  and short tempered. He’s cursing under his breath.  

And when the operations staff talk to him on  radio, even they aren’t spared by the captain.  

CAPTAIN: I don’t want two one two, I want  two one one(Very angry) … I don’t want to  

read you again? Keep your mouth shut. But interestingly, as soon as he turns his  

attention towards the female first officer,  his demeanor completely changes. He turns  

calm and compassionate. CAPTAIN: Don’t be scared,  

I am going to stay for another 3 months, I am  going to show these people right and left.  

Just as he finishes saying these words  to the first officer, the ATC clears the  

plane for taxiing. The plane pushes back, and  taxies to the runway. They then depart Dhaka,  

headed for the Himalayan country. The weather on route and at the  

destination is going to be marginal. It’s  overcast with some thunderstorms in the  

area and visibility isn’t great. During the climb phase, the captain  

overhears a communication between Operations  and another US-Bangla aircraft regarding their  

fuel onboard. But even without verifying if  the message was meant for him, Captain Sultan  

replies angrily at the Operations staff, Captain: Operations, Bangla Star Two One One.  

Ops: Bangla Star 211, Operations. Go Ahead. Captain: (Angry) Why the hell do you need to  

know the Onboard fuel? Why do you ask me for the  onboard fuel? YOU NEED TO TELL ME NOW. I WANT  

a written explanation before I come to Dhaka. Ops: Copied Sir. Wilco. Have a safe flight sir.  

Captain: (Very Angry) I don’t CARE  about a safe flight. You just do your  

duty. Don’t talk to me unless I call you. The Captain’s behaviour is not just abnormal,  

but it is also a severe violation of  the Sterile Cockpit Rule which forbids  

the pilots from engaging in non essential  conversation during the critical takeoff  

and landing phases of the flight. Captain: Even if I am abusing others,  

you don’t be afraid Buri. See, I am calling  you Buri to show my love for you.  

The copilot sees a big red flag but unfortunately  she choses not to speak up due to his seniority.  

She realises that this short one-hour  flight was going to feel much longer.  

15 minutes pass. The weather outside  the plane starts turning cloudy. The  

weather inside the cockpit,  turns thunderous. Out of the  

blue, he goes off on a rant about another  young female pilot, Farhat Lamia Khaled,  

whom he had previously trained at the airline.  He angrily curses Lamia for filing a complaint  

against him questioning his competency. Captain: Lamia was the worst trained in  

US-Bangla . She said we made out in  the cockpit. She is not even worth  

approaching - she is ugly and she is fat. There are rumours within the company that the  

Captain was involved with Lamia, and Lamia had  filed a complaint against him. He breaks down  

and starts weeping openly, telling  the first officer that he is quitting  

the company because of Lamia. Captain: I don’t need Lamia. What  

does SHE know about flying. If I wanted to  be with her, I can easily do that anytime.  

She is not innocent.. your friend Lamia.  But because of HER, I had to resign.  

The first officer is too stunned to know how  to react. She chooses to remain silent, hoping  

and praying that they reach Kathmandu soon. Then, something bizzare happens. The captain  

lights a cigarette inside the cockpit and  begins smoking. A blatant disregard for  

every safety convention and common sense. Captain Abid Sultan has had a history of  

depression. While in the Bangladesh Air Force,  back in 1993, he had been removed from active  

duty after a psychiatric assessment. But then he  had himself re-evaluated by another psychiatrist,  

9 years later, and this psychiatrist declared  him fit for flying. Based on that evaluation,  

he joined US-Bangla in 2015. Many pilots refuse to seek treatment  

for mental health issues because they fear  that their medical assessment will have  

a negative impact on their career. And they  try to manage their mental health themselves,  

without seeking proper attention and treatment.  And we’ve seen this before in other cases,  

like Pakistan 8303 and Germanwings 9525. Now, one hour has passed and the flight has nearly  

reached Kathmandu. The passengers and the cabin  crew remain blissfully unaware of the turmoil  

inside the cockpit. They have enjoyed a relatively  peaceful flight thus far. But things are not  

going to remain peaceful for too long... Inside the cockpit, Captain Sultan is still angry,  

and he’s still crying… FO Rashid tries hard to get  

the Captain back to his senses. But this is the point that marks the  

beginning of a troubling turn of events. For the descent and approach into Kathmandu,  

Captain Sultan was going to be pilot flying, and  the first officer was pilot monitoring. He needs  

to complete the approach briefing, but he doesn’t  have the approach charts with him. He’s just not  

adequately prepared for flight operations at this  time. He asks the first officer for her charts,  

which she hands over. He then briefs their arrival  into Kathmandu while referring to her charts.  

I need you to remember that the approach  into Kathmandu is extremely challenging  

even for experienced pilots who are completely  focused. This cockpit is anything but..  

The Captain does not carry out a complete briefing  of the Runway 02 approach. Given that he has  

performed this approach multiple times before,  complacency seeps in. And important steps are  

missed. Also, remember that the First Officer  was operating this route for the first time,  

so she’s unable to pick up on any issues, and even  if she does, she’s not challenging the captain.  

He hands over the charts back to the first  officer, and he instructs her to clip the charts  

to her side console. This means that he would  have no access to the charts while performing  

the approach into the airport. The chart  contains critical information for the approach,  

like the minimum height at which they need to  fly, which direction they should be flying in,  

and where the mountains that they need  to stay clear of, are. Without this,  

he's essentially flying blind, trusting his  memory of how the approach should be flown.  

To make matters worse, FO Rashid makes several  incorrect statements which indicates that she  

has a poor understanding of the procedures to  follow during approach, but her confusion is  

not resolved by the Pilot in Command. And in this state, the crew attempt to  

begin their approach towards the runway. A few minutes after that, the plane is handed  

off to Kathmandu approach who instructs  the aircraft to descend to 13500 feet and  

to hold over this waypoint called “GURAS”. Based on their current position and speed, the  

aircraft will arrive at GURAS 6 minutes earlier  than originally planned. Kathmandu is usually  

a very crowded airspace, and so the pilots fully  expect to be asked to do this holding pattern.  

And in preparation for this, the FO inserts  this HOLDing pattern into the computer.  

If you zoom out a bit, there’s another plane  called, BUDDHA 282 that is following this plane.  

Just keep this in mind, because this second  plane will soon play a part in this story.  

Kathmandu Approach then calls up and  instructs US Bangla 211 to reduce  

their speed and to descend to 12500ft. However, before the aircraft arrives at the  

holding point, the approach controller  clears the flight to further descend and  

to begin approaching runway 02 directly.  They are not asked to perform the HOLD.  

The pilots acknowledged this transmission  from the ATC, but they crucially forgot  

to remove the HOLD that was programmed into the  computer. Does this remind you of another story  

that you might have seen on this channel??? The captain then turns the seat belt sign on and  

tells the cabin crew to prepare for landing. Captain Sultan lights up another cigarette. The  

aircraft is just 3 minutes away from the “GURAS”  waypoint. Now, holding his cigarette in one hand,  

and trying to control the plane with the  other, the captain struggles and he drops  

his cigarette on the cockpit floor. He  asks FO Rashid to search for it.  

Captain: "Oh No, I’ve dropped the cigarette.  Where did it go? Oh it’s there on the left,  

pick it up. It might catch fire." From the cabin, the flight attendant  

informs the pilots that the cabin is secured. The  ATC clears the plane to continue their approach.  

And all these transmissions happen within a few  seconds of each other. The pilots mental state,  

and these concurrent transmissions become a  trigger for distraction and confusion.  

The plane crosses GURAS, and the aircraft begins  to turn left automatically without any pilot  

inputs. The aircraft is now starting to follow the  HOLD pattern that was programmed into the FMS.  

The ATC immediately notices that the plane was  turning left and warns the crew. The captain,  

hurriedly, sets the plane on Heading mode  and turns the plane to 027 degrees to set it  

back to the correct final approach path. A quick lesson.. This plane is now following  

what’s called a VOR approach. VOR stands for Very  High Frequency Omnidirectional Range approach.  

What this means is A very high frequency radio  wave is transmitted in all directions from a radio  

station on the ground… In Kathmandu, that station  is located here, right near the runway.  

Let’s add a clockface to this VOR..  So, this is 0 degrees, and this is  

180 degrees here at the bottom. If the plane  was approaching the runway from GURAS normally,  

the plane would be flying at a heading of  around 22 degrees to follow this outbound  

radial. But because the plane made the unplanned  turn, the captain has set the plane to approach  

at 27 degrees, with the intention that once the  plane reaches this point on the actual route,  

he’ll turn the plane to 22 degrees and  follow the approach down to the runway.  

The problem is that when heading mode is  selected, the auto pilot ignores he left and  

right navigation programmed into the computer. So  the captain needs to manually perform the turn.  

Also remember that the weather is overcast and  visual contact with the ground isn’t great.  

To add to the problems, there’s also a strong  cross-wind coming from the left hand side  

pushing the plane further to the right. Usually  when the plane is being flown by auto-pilot the  

cross-wind is automatically accounted for and  corrected by the computer.. but unfortunately,  

these pilots are flying manually and  aren’t correcting for this cross-wind.  

The plane then arrives at the point where  it now returns to the original flight path,  

and the pilots should have turned the plane to  22 degrees. But the pilots completely forget  

to do this, and the plane continues to fly at 27  degrees. The westerly cross wind further continues  

to push the plane away from the airport. And to make matters worse, the pilots don’t  

review the landing checklist properly. The  captain instructs the first officer to complete  

the before landing checklist. And as part of the checklist,  

the first officer instructs the  captain to lower the landing gear.  

Captain Sultan in gross negligence  informs FO Rashid that the landing  

gears were down by stating 🧑‍✈️ *Gears Down. Three Green.*  

But, the Landing gear, was in fact, Not down. The  

captain said “Gear down” without checking  to actually confirm that it is down.  

Just at that moment, as the plane  keeps descending towards the ground,  

the landing gear unsafe alarm starts to go off… 👱‍♀️ *Sir, landing gear is not yet set.. Sir,  

Speed Speed Speed…* Bizarrely, the captain asks  

the first officer to ignore the warning. 🧑‍✈️ *(Non chalantly) No worry, No worry…*  

Meanwhile, with the heading set to 027 degrees,  and with the winds pushing the plane to the right,  

the plane starts drifting to the east of  the airport. And in the overcast conditions,  

there’s no visual reference for the pilots either.  They are completely clueless that their plane has  

now drifted off-course. ## KATHMANDU  

The plane is now almost alongside the  airport, and heading further away. From  

the ATC’s perspective it looks like the plane  is flying over the airport to try to land from  

the other side. The ATC calls up the plane. 📡  *BS211, you were cleared for Runway 02 ….*  

📡  *…. but you are going towards runway 20.* Assuming that the crew want to land on Runway 20,  

the ATC now clears them to land on 20. The crew, completely lost, and expecting to see  

the runway in front of them, are confused by the  clearance, and they continue to fly straight.  

The captain confirms that he intends to land on  Runway 02. So, the ATC asks the plane to make a  

U-Turn, and to join what’s called the downwind leg  to prepare for a landing on runway 02. Remember,  

the pilots still think that they are here and  are expecting the runway in front of them,  

but because the ATC has asked them to do a U turn,  the captain begins turning the plane right.  

And as the aircraft descends to around 175  feet above ground level, a Ground Proximity  

Warning Alarm goes off. After hearing the TOO  LOW GEARS warning, the First Officer finally  

does a thorough scan and notices that  the landing gear was not actually down,  

although the captain had initially said that it  WAS down, and she initiates its extension.  

Recall the BUDDHA 282 plane that was following  them? That plane is now on final approach towards  

the runway. The ATC orders the US Bangla plane  to keep clear of the Buddha Airlines plane,  

and also to vacate the area where they are  currently in, because if BUDDHA282 fails to  

land and needs to go-around, the go-around  procedure will take that plane exactly where  

the US Bangla plane is right now. However, the confused captain of the  

US Bangla plane, instead of just doing a  U-turn continues turning right, putting  

his plane and BUDHA282 in danger. This move sends alarm bells ringing  

across the ATC control room. The captain’s  actions could potentially put the two  

aircrafts on direct collision course. The ATC controller scrambles to instruct  

Captain Sultan to remain clear of runway 20. But the plane continues to turn right and remains  

in the path of the Buddha airlines go-around  route… But thankfully, the Buddha Air plane lands  

safely and doesn’t need to go around… One danger - averted.  

But for Captain Sultan and US BANGLA, the  main problem still remains. They are still  

not on the correct path to land and they  have no clue where they are. And Neither  

pilot has visually sighted the runway. But  the captain has finally understood that they  

aren’t where they thought they were at. > **🧑‍✈️ ***(Feeling guilty) So I have done  

mistake, it happens isn’t it? (trying to shift  blame to the First officer) It can happen since  

I was talking to you! Where is our VOR, gone left  isn’t it? So let me make a turn 15 degrees and  

come back to final.* >  

With no other planes approaching the airport,  the tower clears BS211 to land on any runway.  

And By this time the plane has flown over the  airport and is now on the western side. The  

captain again continues to turn his plane  to the right. During the turn, the bank  

angles reach up to 45 degrees with descent  rates over 2000 feet per minute triggering  

the EGPWS warnings one more time. But even after all this, the pilots  

still aren’t able to locate the runway. > 📡  *BS211, Confirm you have runway in sight?*  

> > **🧑‍✈️ ***Negative Sir… Where is the runway?*  

> > 📡  *BS211, turn right. and uh… you have runway…  

confirm you have the runway not in sight yet?* >  

The phrasing by the ATC is poor.. You should  never ask to confirm a negative.. But that’s  

the least of our worries right now. As the plane continues to turn,  

the plane comes to the vicinity of  Runway 20. At this point the FO finally  

manages to visually locate the runway. > 👱‍♀️ *Sir runway. runway. Sir 3 o clock.*  

> But this relief is short-lived. Because,  

in their haste, they make another mistake. From their current location, they are in no  

position to land on the runway. They need to be  vectored in back around this route, to attempt a  

safe landing. However, Captain Sultan, eager  to put this embarrassing episode behind him,  

makes a desperate attempt to land the plane at the  closer runway 20, and not on runway 02 that he has  

been cleared for. In a rush, he is determined to  get the aircraft on the ground at any cost.  

Captain Sultan makes a sharp and abrupt right  turn back to the west in an attempt to return  

to the approach end of the runway. The plane dives at a steep angle towards  

the runway. The plane hurtles towards the ground  at a very high speed. The ATC is stunned at this  

turn of events. They had never imagined that  the pilots would attempt to land the plane  

from there. The plane approached very close  to the threshold of runway 20. Spotting the  

aircraft maneuvering at very close proximity  to the ground and not aligned with the runway,  

the Tower Controller hurriedly cancels the  landing clearance of the aircraft by saying,  

incorrectly, "Takeoff clearance cancelled". Hearing the cancelled clearance, the captain  

pulls the plane up with a very high bank angle,  turns left, and flies the plane over the parked  

aircraft on the domestic terminal. Suddenly, there’s a more immediate danger,  

and both the captain and the FO realize this  simultaneously. In all their erratic direction  

changes, the plane is now headed straight  for the ATC tower. As the aircraft barrels  

towards the control tower, the situation is  turning into a potential catastrophe.  

All the operators inside the tower jump from  their seats and duck for cover. The captain  

struggles and puts the plane into a steep climb  and just barely manages to miss the tower…  

The captain is now stressed out  and not thinking straight.  

After missing the control tower, the plane  now flies over the taxiway, aiming to make  

one last attempt to land on the runway. The aircraft finally touches down with only  

its right landing gear hitting the runway  almost 1.7kms from the start of the runway,  

at a bank angle of almost 15 degrees. This  causes the plane to skid off course and veer  

off the runway. The plane then bounced  on the unpaved part of the airport,  

and then crashed through the airport's  perimeter. It came to a halt in a nearby  

field. Within six seconds, a fire erupted. Both pilots, the two cabin crew members,  

and 47 passengers unfortunately perished in  the accident. Only the passengers seated on  

the right side of the plane or those  in the front managed to survive.