Air ambulance for Khaleda Zia cancels scheduled arrival on Tuesday
Published: 08 December 2025, 11:58:45
The air ambulance, arranged to transport BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to London, will no longer arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday as previously planned.
The operator has formally requested cancellation of its approved landing permission, according to sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
CAAB sources said the operator requested withdrawal of the earlier clearance that allowed the aircraft to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8 AM on Tuesday.
A senior CAAB official confirmed that Germany-based FAI Aviation Group submitted the cancellation request through its local coordinating agency.
Later, the request has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further action.
Earlier on Sunday, CAAB had initially approved the air ambulance’s landing at 8 AM Tuesday and its departure at around 9 PM based on a preliminary application.
The flight was part of preparations to transport Khaleda Zia abroad after the Qatar government opted to charter an alternative long-range medical evacuation aircraft operated by the FAI Aviation Group.
The operator had selected a Bombardier Challenger 604 (CL60), a widely trusted aircraft for long-distance medical evacuations due to its advanced critical-care configuration, extended range and operational stability.
It remains unclear when a new air ambulance might be scheduled for Khaleda Zia’s medical transfer.
