A total of 61 passengers who had checked in for a flight from Bangladesh to Malaysia eventually left the airport without boarding the plane, as authorities intensified inspection of travel documents.
The missing passengers were noted after immigration officials and airline authorities stopped 15 fellow passengers on the Diman Bangladesh Airlines flight departing from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on July 4 night from traveling over fake or tampered visas, The Business Standard reported.
Ten of the passengers were removed from the aircraft before departure, while the other five were prevented from proceeding through the boarding gate.
The flight eventually departed with 212 passengers instead of 288.
According to airport sources, many of the 61 missing passengers are believed to have left the airport after learning that authorities had intensified scrutiny of travel documents following the detection of tampered visa and other documents.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787-8. Photo by Reuters |
Under standard airport procedures, passengers first check in their baggage and obtain boarding passes before passing through immigration, where officials verify travel documents and visas.
After clearing immigration, they proceed to the departure gate to board their flight.
An official told Bangladesh news site bdnews24 that authorities remain particularly vigilant on Malaysia-bound flights because some travelers with valid visas have previously been denied entry and deported upon arrival.
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