‘Sky lit up with missiles’: Biman pilot recounts mid-air scare during Israel-Iran conflict

“After crossing Indian, Omani, and UAE airspace, we approached Bahrain’s horizon. It was nearly 5:00am local time on June 14,” Capt Enamul recounted. “Cruising at 40,000 feet, the view of the earth below always fills me with a deep sense of awe. But that feeling quickly vanished — replaced by shock and fear — as we witnessed something completely unexpected.”

The aircraft was flying over the Persian Gulf. To its right lay Iran; to the left and slightly behind, Bahrain. Though the sun had not yet risen, a faint glow was beginning to appear on the eastern horizon.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash lit up the Iranian sky. At first, Capt Enamul thought it might be a routine military drill. But within seconds, he and his co-pilot, Rafsan Riyad, spotted them — dozens of missiles streaking westward in rapid succession.

“My co-pilot was equally stunned. We immediately reviewed our flight path. One thought kept running through my mind: what if even one missile veered off course? The very idea sent a chill down my spine.”

Though Capt Enamul had faced tense situations before, this was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

“Flaming arrows ripping through the sky — just miles from our aircraft.”

Acting swiftly, the crew adjusted their course to maintain a safe distance and continued towards Riyadh, where they landed without incident.

“After landing, I turned on my phone — and the news broke: ‘Iran launches massive missile strike on Israel.’”

This was more than a military operation — it felt like the opening act of a war, one that might easily spill beyond two nations and threaten the entire region’s stability.

“That morning, I wasn’t just a pilot. I became a witness to history, watching a conflict ignite from the edge of the stratosphere.”

The missiles they observed were likely long-range ballistic missiles — not just weapons, but clear strategic signals. These projectiles soar hundreds of kilometers into near-space before descending onto their targets.

“The Middle Eastern airspace is no longer just a transit corridor; it's increasingly becoming a contested and volatile zone,” Capt Enamul added.

Fortunately, passengers onboard remained unaware of the danger they had flown past.

“We managed to land safely. But even now, one question haunts me: how safe is the sky we fly through?”