Captain Enam Talukder, a pilot of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, recounted a chilling experience during a routine flight from Dhaka to Riyadh. Taking off at 2:15 AM from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with co-pilot Rapsan Riyad, everything seemed smooth as they crossed Indian, Omani, and UAE airspace. But as their aircraft cruised at 40,000 feet above the Persian Gulf near Bahrain, they witnessed a sight that left them stunned.
Just before dawn, a sudden flash illuminated the Iranian sky. At first, it appeared to be a typical military drill. But to their disbelief, they saw dozens of missiles being launched from Iran, heading west—likely toward Israel. It was an overwhelming moment of fear and disbelief. The crew quickly reassessed their flight route, staying alert to the terrifying possibility that a single missile could go off course and endanger the aircraft.
Though the passengers were unaware, the pilots navigated carefully and ensured a safe landing in Riyadh. Only after landing and turning on his phone did Captain Enam fully realize the gravity of what they had witnessed—Iran had launched a large-scale missile attack on Israel.
The experience shook him deeply. Having faced many challenges in the sky, nothing had prepared him for watching live missile fire near his plane. What they saw were likely long-range ballistic missiles—tools of war that carry not just destruction but also geopolitical signals. The skies over the Middle East, once a routine passage for international flights, now feel dangerously uncertain.
Reflecting on the incident, Captain Enam said he felt not just like a pilot that morning, but a witness to history—watching the beginning of what could become a much larger regional conflict. And though their journey ended safely, he’s left asking: How safe is the sky we fly through?
