The planned air ambulance transfer of ailing former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to London has been postponed after the operator requested the cancellation of its previously approved landing schedule for tomorrow (December 9) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
Sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed that Germany-based FAI Aviation Group, the globally recognised provider chartered for the mission, formally withdrew its slot request through a local coordinating agency.
CAAB officials are now forwarding the cancellation request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the next steps. The air ambulance, chartered by the Qatar government and designated as a Bombardier Challenger 604 (CL60), was initially cleared to land tomorrow morning (8:20 am) and depart the same evening.
Officials indicate that details regarding a revised schedule or whether a new aircraft request will be submitted are pending as the operator and relevant government agencies complete additional procedural steps. The delay has put the immediate medical evacuation on hold.
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