Malfunction on Biman Airlines injures 14; shuts Dubai airport

(AP)

DUBAI, Mar 12:  An apparent mechanical malfunction on a Bangladeshi airliner injured 14 passengers and closed Dubai International Airport, an airport official said on Monday.

Bangladesh’s Biman Airlines Flight 006 was taking off at 6:30 a.m. Monday when a “small incident” occurred that caused the takeoff to be aborted and the plane halted on the runway, said the airport official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

Fourteen injured passengers were taken to a hospital and the plane was quickly evacuated, the official said.

The plane was travelling to the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

A Dubai government-owned radio station said the Middle East’s busiest airport would be closed for as long as 12 hours and asked travellers to phone their airlines for more information. Incoming flights were being diverted elsewhere.

Dubai airport’s Web site offered no information, but its arrivals and departures page listed flights as delayed or cancelled.