Wrong fix, big loss: Biman wastes Tk 23cr replacing generators
Biman Bangladesh Airlines incurred a financial loss of about Tk 23 crore after repeatedly replacing generators on a Boeing 787 aircraft without detecting the actual technical fault, which was later found to be a defective fuel cooler, airline and aviation sources said.
The incident involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bearing registration S2-AJX, operated by Biman. An internal complaint alleges that three Variable Frequency Starter Generators (VFSGs) were replaced in quick succession without proper troubleshooting, even though the underlying problem was not with the generators.
Each VFSG costs about $624,000 (approximately Tk 7.6 crore), resulting in an estimated loss of $1.8 million, or around Tk 23 crore, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Complaint triggers probe
A written complaint was submitted to Biman authorities on December 24, accusing engineer Hiralal Chakraborty, a member of the airline’s engineering department, of making repeated technical decisions without accurately diagnosing the fault.
According to the complaint, a technical issue was first detected in the aircraft’s L1 system. On December 10, a VFSG was replaced, but the fault persisted. The generator was replaced again on December 17, and for a third time on December 23, yet the problem remained unresolved.
A senior Biman engineering official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a detailed review later revealed that the actual fault lay in the fuel cooler, not the generators.
“If the problem had been correctly identified at the outset, the fuel cooler could have been repaired or replaced, and all three VFSGs could have been saved,” the official said.
Aircraft carried Tarique Rahman
The aircraft drew particular attention as it was used on December 25 to fly BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman from London to Dhaka, adding to the sensitivity surrounding the incident and prompting calls for an impartial investigation.
The complaint also alleged the existence of a “corrupt circle” within Biman’s engineering department and claimed that similar faulty decisions in the past had damaged high-value components. It further alleged that such actions were carried out under the supervision of Chief Engineer (Production) Md Ali Naser, a claim the airline has not confirmed.
Investigation committee formed
Following the allegations, the aviation authority formed a three-member investigation committee on January 5. The Deputy Chief Engineer (Engineering Base Maintenance) was appointed as chair, with the Deputy General Manager (Training Aerospace) as a member and the Manager (Accounts–Passenger Revenue Process Rapid) as member secretary.
The committee has been tasked with examining whether proper procedures were followed in replacing the generators, assessing the financial loss, identifying negligence or systemic weaknesses, and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in future. The committee was instructed to submit its report to Biman’s Managing Director and CEO within 10 working days, though the probe had not been completed as of January 24.
Conflicting accounts
Engineer Hiralal Chakraborty told Jago News that an investigation was underway and declined to comment further.
Chief Engineer (Production) Md Ali Naser, denied that three generators had been installed, saying only one generator was replaced and later reinstalled after repair.
“When an aircraft develops a fault, the system automatically identifies the affected component. If the flight schedule is tight, we replace the unit first and conduct detailed checks later,” he said, adding that this is standard operational practice.
Asked why a generator was replaced if the fuel cooler was faulty, he said modern aircraft systems provide fault indications, and engineers act accordingly to minimise flight disruptions.
Biman General Manager (Public Relations) Bosra Islam confirmed that an investigation committee had been formed and said the findings would be made known once the report is submitted.
The incident has raised fresh questions about maintenance practices, decision-making protocols and financial oversight at the national carrier, particularly as Biman continues to struggle with operational efficiency and cost control.