An Air Astra Airlines flight collided with a dog on the runway of Cox’s Bazar Airport around 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 2, 2025, causing a delay of approximately one hour. The flight, carrying 72 passengers, was preparing to take off for Dhaka when the incident occurred.According to airport sources, the collision resulted in the death of the dog. Fire services and cleaning staff promptly cleared the runway. The pilot and ground crew conducted a thorough mechanical inspection of the aircraft, and after confirming no damage, the flight safely departed for Dhaka at around 8:15 PM.
Golam Mortuza, the acting director of Cox’s Bazar Airport, stated, “The dog was killed in the collision, but all passengers remained safe, and the flight landed in Dhaka with a delay of one hour.” He added that while stray dogs are less of an issue during the day, their presence on the runway increases after dusk, exacerbated by low lighting conditions, which heightens risks. Despite the deployment of 189 Ansar members for security, such incidents have not been entirely prevented.
Airport authorities are planning to enhance runway safety measures, including increased surveillance at night and improvements to runway lighting, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
