BANGLADESH - A tragic incident occurred in Dhaka, Bangladesh, when a Bangladeshi Air Force training jet crashed into a school campus,...
resulting in at least 19 deaths and 164 injuries. The crash happened at Milestone School and College in the northern suburb of Uttara, causing a large fire and thick smoke. The aircraft, an F-7 jet, experienced a mechanical fault shortly after takeoff at around 13:00 local time, according to the armed forces. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, was among those killed, despite efforts to steer the plane away from the densely populated area.
Eyewitnesses, including teachers and students, described seeing the jet hit the two-storey building directly, with one teacher remarking that he saw the collision firsthand. Students recalled witnessing the plane strike right in front of them, while another teacher reported hearing an explosion. The crash severely impacted the school, where children aged 4 to 18 attend.
More than 50 individuals, including children and adults, suffering from burns, were hospitalized. Emergency teams quickly responded, transferring the injured to nearby hospitals and continuing rescue efforts amidst scenes of chaos, with crowds gathering and onlookers climbing nearby buildings to observe the rescue operations. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
Bangladesh's interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow and assured that necessary measures would be taken to determine the cause and provide assistance. A day of mourning was declared for Tuesday, with the national flag to be flown at half-mast nationwide. Efforts are ongoing to rescue survivors and contain the aftermath of this devastating accident. (BBC)