Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School; 19 Dead, Over 100 Injured
The jet, identified as an F-7 BGI, took off at 1:06 p.m. and went down within 12 minutes of take-off.
A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring 121 others, according to NDTV.
Eighty-three people are taking treatment in several Dhaka hospitals. Many of the injured are reportedly in critical condition. A one-day state mourning has also been declared for Tuesday.
The jet, identified as an F-7 BGI, took off at 1:06 p.m. and went down within 12 minutes of take-off. The crash happened on the campus of Milestone School and College, where students were reportedly present at the time of the incident. The crash triggered a fire, with thick smoke seen rising from the site, as shown in videos shared on social media.
Emergency response teams, including personnel from the Bangladesh Army and the Fire Service and Civil Defence, were quickly deployed to the scene to carry out rescue operations and extinguish the flames. Several injured individuals, including students, were seen being carried away from the wreckage by military personnel.
The Bangladesh Army’s public relations office confirmed the aircraft belonged to the Air Force and was on a training mission when the crash occurred. Fire department official Lima Khan stated that one fatality had been confirmed and four others were injured, though further details on their condition were not immediately available, NDTV said, citing AP.
"The bodies of those who were killed in the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash at the Milestone School and College campus in the capital's Diabari area, whose identities can be identified, will be handed over to their families immediately. The bodies of those who cannot be identified immediately will be identified through DNA testing and handed over to their families later. The honorable chief adviser is keeping a close eye on the treatment of the injured," Bangladesh government sources told NDTV.
Additionally, the public is being specifically requested not to unnecessarily crowd the hospital area to ensure uninterrupted medical work.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the crash, and an investigation is expected to follow.
