Bangladesh Air Force jet crashes into school leaving at least 16 people dead as update is released
A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft has crashed in to a school campus in northern Dhaka – killing at least 16 people, including its pilot, and injuring dozens, officials have confirmed.
According to the military and a fire official, the Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI aircraft crashed in to the campus of Milestone School and College, in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood, on Monday afternoon, where students were taking tests or attending regular classes.
Saidur Rahman, a National Burn Institute official in Dhaka, told Bangladesh’s leading English daily, The Daily Star, that the death toll rose to 16 within hours.
Parents and relatives attended the scene as rescuers, using rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured.
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Rafiqa Taha, a student at the school who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that Milestone School and College, with some 2,000 students, runs classes from elementary to 12th grade.
On Monday, she said, some students were taking tests while others attended regular classes.
“I was terrified watching videos on TV,” said the 16-year-old student. “My God. It’s my school.”
The Bangladesh Army’s public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force.
Muhammad Yunus, the leader of Bangladesh's interim government, has taken to Twitter in recent hours to issue a statement on the horrible incident.
He said: "I express my deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of casualties caused by the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of the capital today.
"The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.
"I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and direct all concerned authorities, including hospitals, to address the situation with the utmost priority.
"The government will take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure all forms of assistance."
Topics: World News
Callum Jones