Passengers panic as Qatar Airways flight plunges 4,000 feet after take-off

A Qatar Airways flight from Dhaka to Istanbul via Doha experienced severe turbulence shortly after take-off on Monday night, with the aircraft reportedly losing around 4,000 feet in altitude, triggering panic among passengers.

The incident occurred about 15 minutes after the aircraft departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, carrying passengers, including journalists travelling to Türkiye to cover the COP31 climate conference.

Senior journalist Abdur Rahman Jahangir, who was aboard the flight, said the aircraft encountered a sudden air pocket and experienced violent shaking, dropping from an altitude of around 9,000 feet to 5,000 feet within moments.

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The sudden descent caused widespread panic in the cabin, with passengers fearing that the pilot might have lost control of the aircraft and that a major accident was imminent, he said.

Several passengers described the experience as the most frightening of their lives.

However, the pilot eventually regained control of the aircraft and continued towards its destination, according to Jahangir.

He sought prayers from countrymen for the safe arrival of the passengers.