Air ambulance for Khaleda Zia not arriving Tuesday

The air ambulance arranged to transfer ailing former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to London will not arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday, after the operator requested cancellation of its previously approved landing schedule at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

A senior official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed to The Aviation Express that Germany-based FAI Aviation Group submitted a formal application through a local coordinating agency seeking to withdraw its earlier slot request.

“We will forward the cancellation request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further necessary steps,” the official said.

CAAB had earlier cleared the aircraft to land at 8:00am Tuesday and depart at around 9:00pm the same day, according to the operator’s initial request submitted on Sunday.

The Qatar government arranged the medical evacuation aircraft, chartering it from FAI Aviation Group after selecting a replacement air ambulance suitable for long-range medical transport.

FAI, a globally recognised provider of air-ambulance and mission-critical aviation services, designated a Bombardier Challenger 604 (CL60) for the mission.

The Challenger 604 is widely used for intercontinental medical evacuations due to its extended range, high operational reliability, and capacity for advanced critical-care medical configuration on board.

Begum Khaleda Zia continues to receive treatment for multiple health complications, with her medical team closely coordinating evacuation requirements and international transport readiness.

Officials said further details on a revised schedule, or whether a new aircraft request will be submitted, are expected once the operator and relevant government agencies complete additional procedural steps.