Not sure if it was a toy gun: Minister

Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry is yet to ascertain whether the pistol used by the Biman “hijacker” was a toy gun.

“We have still not been able to confirm whether the hijacker was carrying a real pistol or toy,” said Civil Aviation Secretary Mohibul Haque.

He was briefing journalists at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, 17 hours after the “hijacking” of Biman flight at Chattogram.

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State Minister for the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Mahbub Ali and Secretary Mohibul Haque spoke at the press briefing.

Their comments come in light of reports surfacing that the gun used by the alleged hijacker, who was neutralised in commando action, was a toy.

They said that eight of the 148 passengers boarded the flight BG 147 through the domestic terminal of Dhaka airport last evening.

“There was no breach in security as shown in CCTV footage while checking their luggage and handbags,” the secretary said during the briefing.

There was also no trace of a pistol in any of their luggage and handbag, he said.

The probe committee has already started working on the issue and will submit a probe report to the government within five days.

The body will go to Chattogram today and would talk to the pilot, cabin crew and passengers of the plane. The committee members they will also examine the plane and then, will make the probe report.

A man, now being identified as Md Palash Ahmed allegedly tried to storm the cockpit of a Biman flight and was killed in a commando operation at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram yesterday evening after all passengers were evacuated safely.