Biman cabin crew member 'caught smoking' in the galley

Every time passengers board Biman, they are warned by the cabin crew not to smoke as smoking is strictly prohibited on all commercial flights.

Before takeoff, the passengers get the announcement: "This flight is non-smoking. Smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the flight, including lavatories, which are also equipped with smoke detectors."

Astonishingly, a Biman cabin crew member has allegedly been caught on a video clip smoking in the galley, violating fight safety and international aviation regulations.

Biman on April 30 ordered cabin crew member Marian Adhikary Mery to explain within 96 hours why she should not be punished.

"It has been for your kind information that the Biman Bangladesh Airlines management had come to know that you have had a cigarette or something like a cigarette in flight while in uniform." This is unprofessional and it violates Biman regulations, the show-cause letter said.

Marian, also a junior purser, told The Daily Star that she was directed by the Biman authorities not to speak to the media about the matter.

Top officials of the Customer Service and Flight Safety department of Biman said she has been dropped from the duty roaster as an investigation is ongoing.

"Departmental actions will be taken against her as per the rules if she is found guilty," a top official of Biman said.

According to the Cabin Operations and Safety Manual of Biman, smoking is strictly prohibited in any phase of a flight while on duty.

A Biman official said SpiceJet grounded two of its pilots for allegedly having coffee and sweets inside the cockpit during a flight in mid-journey.

In another incident, Indian aviation watchdog DGCA directed Air India to de-roster the entire crew until an investigation into a pilot allegedly allowing a friend inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight in February was complete.