A Bangkok-bound Biman Bangladesh Airlines jet has flown back to Dhaka from Myanmar after cabin pressure dropped mid-air.

The passengers later flew to their destination in another jet in the evening on Friday.

As many as 133 passengers were aboard the Boeing 737-800 plane, said Boshra Islam, public relations general manager of Biman.

“The incident occurred on Friday afternoon. The aircraft started to descend after cabin pressure dropped in the air. The jet then flew for about two hours and returned to Dhaka at 1 pm,” she said.

The passengers then boarded another jet and took off from Dhaka at 5:26pm, she added.

An officer of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said: “When the plane arrived in Myanmar airspace, the cabin pressure suddenly reduced. Later, as the oxygen levels inside the plane dropped, oxygen masks were automatically lowered to passengers.”

“The plane was flying at an altitude of 25,000ft at that time. It caused panic among the passengers. Later the pilot read the situation and lowered the jet to 10,000ft deciding to return to Dhaka.”

“About an hour after the situation occurred, the plane landed at the Shahjalal International Airport at 2pm.”