Editorial
Passengers' safety gravely endangered
Fatal corruption in Biman must end
Just over a month into Biman's schedule chaos, the finance minister's threatening to shut it down if things did not improve and our own editorial on the corruption and inefficiency that characterises the national carrier, still new facts have come to light. This time, the concern is not only about corruption in the administration, but the outright threat to the safety of passengers and aircrafts.
According to news reports, in some 18 foreign stations of Biman, the airline's employees are helping to transport tonnes of undeclared luggage in exchange for money, with one flight reportedly carrying around 5,000kg of undisclosed luggage. Undisclosed, meaning that pilots are unaware of the weight of their aircraft, which determines take-off speed and the amount of fuel required for the flight, among other things. Errors in which have resulted in unexpected take-off time, unscheduled stops, emergency landings and even a near-crash situation.
The acting managing director of Biman has said that such incidents have occurred only once or twice, are being probed and that those responsible will be punished through suspension, transfer or demotion. The number of incidents is not the issue here, but the fact that such dangerous practices are occurring at all. The punishment, too, seems inadequate, compared to the possible fatal consequences of the crime. Corruption at this level, which puts the lives of hundreds at risk daily, is unacceptable, and must be dealt with an iron hand. It is no longer a matter of financial loss only, but of the threat to hundreds of passengers who fly our national airlines.
We urge the authorities, yet again, to carry out a complete overhaul of the airlines, rooting out corruption at all levels, punishing those responsible, and taking prompt and effective measures to ensure the smooth and safe running of the national carrier.
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