An airliner carrying 89 people has made an emergency landing in Bangladesh, but everyone on board is believed to be safe, according to Government officials.

Nearly half of the passengers on board had just arrived in Bangladesh on a flight from London, aviation officials said.

It is thought they are all Bangladeshis living in Britain who were travelling to Syhlet for the holiday period.

But the aviation minister said he thought there may be serious injuries to the 85 passengers and four crew members on board the Bangladeshi plane.

The BBC correspondent Frances Harrison reports from Dhaka (Dur: 1'-14")

The Biman airlines Fokker 28 was on its way to Sylhet from the capital Dhaka when it crashed into a paddy field near the airport. Visibility was said to be poor in the area due to fog.

An airline official said contact had been lost with the aircraft soon after take-off on its 300km (180 miles) flight.

Fifty five people have been admitted to local hospitals but it is not clear how badly hurt they are. Some of the less seriously injured passengers managed to walk to the airport where they received first aid and were sent home.

Two villagers brought the pilot of the plane and the crew by boat and then by foot to the airport.

Officials said the pilot was bleeding from his forehead and side and was taken to hospital with his crew.

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