A tragic accident on a school campus in Dhaka. A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed just after takeoff, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 170. It is one of the deadliest air disasters in Bangladesh in recent years.
What happened on the campus?
On Monday afternoon, a Chinese-made F-7 BGI training jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed on the grounds of Milestone School and College in the Uttara district of Dhaka. The aircraft took off from the AK Khandaker air base, but only a few minutes later the pilot reported a technical problem. Although he tried to steer the aircraft away from densely built-up areas, the jet hit a two-storey building where classes were in session.
Death toll
A military training jet crashes into a school campus in Bangladesh, killing 18 people
*according to the latest information, the number of dead is 19
According to military and rescue services:
- At least 19 people died, including the pilot and students present in the building.
- As many as 171 people were injured, mainly by burns and mechanical injuries.
- More than 50 victims were taken to burn treatment institutes and the largest hospitals in the capital.
- Some of the injured are fighting for their lives in serious condition.
Rescue operation and government response
Rescue services, the military, police units and the elite Rapid Action Battalion appeared at the crash site immediately. A dozen or so ambulances and military helicopters assisted in the operation. The most seriously injured were transported to a military hospital and specialist centres in Dhaka.
Bangladeshi authorities declared a national day of mourning, and state flags were lowered to half-mast. Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus promised a swift investigation and support for the families of the victims.
What did the crash scene look like?
Witnesses describe that fire broke out on the campus grounds right after the crash, and students were evacuated through the broken windows of the building. Parents in panic searched for their children among the crowd of injured and evacuated people. Around a dozen people were even rescued on rickshaws, using whatever was at hand.
Cause of the crash – what do we know so far?
Preliminary findings point to a technical fault in the F-7 BGI, which is regarded as a modern but highly technically demanding training model. Experts stress that Bangladesh purchased 16 such aircraft and has operated them intensively since 2013.
The military has appointed a special commission to investigate the causes of the tragedy. Attention is drawn to the pilot’s heroic attempt to avoid even more casualties by steering the aircraft toward a less populated area.
