Aviation Blackout: Massive Fire at Dhaka Airport Cargo Complex Halts All Flight Operations

Published on October 18, 2025

The blaze, which reportedly started around 2:30 PM in the cargo village near Gate 8, quickly escalated, requiring a colossal multi-agency response to bring it under control. While the immediate suspension of flights brought chaos to the passenger terminals and the national aviation schedule, the quick action of the authorities ensured the safety of all aircraft and, crucially, averted any immediate reports of casualties.

A plume of thick, acrid black smoke over Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, signalled a major crisis on Saturday afternoon. A massive fire erupted within the airport’s critical cargo complex, forcing authorities to immediately and completely suspend all flight operations—both inbound and outbound—at the nation’s principal international gateway.

This incident, which comes as the third major fire in Bangladesh within a span of just five days, has not only disrupted international travel but also reignited serious concerns about industrial and public safety standards across the country.

The Epicenter of the Crisis: The Cargo Village

The fire’s location was particularly challenging. It was concentrated in the airport’s Cargo Village, a section vital for storing imported goods, which included large quantities of garments and, critically, chemicals in cans. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions, which are believed to have been triggered by these stored chemicals, severely intensifying the fire and posing a major risk to the emergency crews.

The volume of thick smoke generated by the blaze was so immense that it covered a large part of the airport and the surrounding area, leading to poor visibility and necessitating the suspension of all takeoffs and landings as an immediate safety precaution.

Airport Executive Director Md Masudul Hasan Masud confirmed the suspension of operations, stating the immediate priority was containment. Despite the dramatic visual of the smoke, officials were quick to confirm that all aircraft parked at the airport were “confirmed safe,” a critical piece of information that helped ease fears of a major aviation disaster.

A Coordinated and Colossal Emergency Response

The effort to douse the flames was a powerful display of coordinated national emergency response, involving multiple agencies:

Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD): At its peak, the FSCD deployed up to 36 firefighting units to the scene. This enormous mobilization underscores the severity and rapid spread of the fire.

Military Support: Teams from the Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, and two platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were pressed into service. This multi-branch military coordination was essential for providing specialized fire units and securing the perimeter.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB): The CAAB led the immediate operational shutdown and managed the necessary flight diversions.

This large-scale mobilization was necessary to combat the challenge posed by the stored chemicals, which made containment efforts exceedingly difficult. While initial reports were positive regarding casualties, some security personnel and firefighters were reportedly injured while battling the intense blaze.

The Cascade of Disruption: Stranded Passengers and Diverted Flights

The temporary closure of HSIA, a hub for millions of international passengers annually, led to widespread travel chaos.

• Flight Suspension Duration: Flight operations were suspended for approximately six hours, with the first aircraft landing around 9:06 PM after a partial resumption of services.

• Inbound Flights Diverted: At least nine inbound international flights were diverted. The majority—eight flights—were rerouted to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, with one flight heading to Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. This included a Himalaya Airlines flight carrying 180 passengers that was forced to land in Nepal.

• Outbound Cancellation: A Kuwait-bound Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight was called off minutes before its scheduled departure, leaving 267 passengers stranded and frustrated, having already completed boarding.

• Global Impact: International carriers like Air India reported delays for their Delhi-Dhaka services, illustrating the immediate global ripple effect of the closure of a major regional hub.

Passengers described the airport environment as “chaotic,” with families stuck and travelers like one Emirates passenger facing an eight-hour delay for their rescheduled departure. The financial implications are also significant, with businesses already fearing an impact of over $1 billion on the nation’s imports and exports.

Safety Scrutiny and the Investigation Ahead

The fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the latest in a worrying series of fire incidents in Bangladesh, which in the preceding days included a devastating blaze at a chemical warehouse that claimed 16 lives, and a fire that gutted an eight-story factory.

Experts have expressed serious concerns that these recurring incidents highlight systemic safety challenges and lax safety standards in the country’s industrial and commercial infrastructure.

In response to the gravity of the incident, Biman Bangladesh Airlines immediately formed a six-member investigation committee. Headed by Biman’s chief of flight safety, the committee has been instructed to deliver a comprehensive report within five working days. Its mandate is clear: to determine the cause of the fire, assess the full extent of the damage and financial losses, and establish accountability for the incident.