A tragic incident occurred when a Bangladesh Air Force F7 jet crashed into a school campus in Dhaka, killing at least 19 people. According to a report by AFP, the joint director of the hospital in Dhaka, Mohammad Maruf Islam, stated that most of the injured are aged between eight and 14.
Casualties and Injuries
Of the 51 individuals brought to the hospital, at least 20 were critically injured, raising concerns about the safety of young students. The crash happened shortly after the F-7 BGI aircraft took off at 1:06 PM local time and was aimed at diverting away from densely populated areas.
The Incident and Eyewitness Accounts
According to military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, “The pilot made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft crashed into a two-story building belonging to Milestone School and College.” The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, was among those killed in the incident.
Witness Shafiur Rahman Shafi, an 18-year-old student at the school, recalled hearing a loud blast that felt like an earthquake. “We have two playgrounds, one for senior students and one for juniors. Suddenly, one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground),” he told AFP.
Investigations and Responses
The military confirmed that a committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the crash. The jet, part of the Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, was procured by Bangladesh in 2011, with deliveries completed by 2013.
In light of the tragedy, a one-day state mourning has been declared for Tuesday in memory of the victims. This decision was announced by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.
The situation remains under investigation as local authorities assess the impact of the crash and the safety measures in place around schools in the vicinity.
