B’desh Air Force jet crashes into school building; 20 killed

At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 people were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a college in the capital of Dhaka on Monday afternoon. The crash happened shortly after takeoff from Bangladesh Air Force Base A.K. Khandaker at 1:06 p.m. local time, military officials said.
The F-7 BGI aircraft experienced a technical problem and crashed into a two-story building on the campus of Milestone School and College as students were attending classes, according to spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury. Those who died were mostly students, officials said. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, also died in the crash.
He made “every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location,” the military said. Another 116 victims were injured and many of them suffered burn injuries.
Video from local media shows students flocking from campus as heavy plumes of dark smoke billowed from the fiery crash. The F-7 BGI jet involved in the deadly incidents is a variant of a Chinese fighter. The aircraft was on a routine training mission when it crashed into the college. The government announced a national day of mourning for Tuesday when flags will fly at half-staff across the country. The campus, which 2,000 enrolled students, describes itself as a leading private educational institution. The college urged people wishing to donate blood to go to nearby hospitals, saying “lots of blood is needed.”
“Each member of the Milestone family and the Milestone College authority are deeply shocked by this sudden accident,” Milestone wrote on its Facebook page. “The honorable principal of the college has prayed for everyone for the unexpected incident.”
Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government in Bangladesh, advised people to stay away from the crash site as rescue efforts remain ongoing. Yunus in a statement on social media expressed “deep grief and sorrow” over the tragic incident. “The bodies of those whose identities can be confirmed will be handed over to their families as soon as possible,” Yunnus wrote on X. “The bodies of those whose identities cannot be immediately confirmed will be identified through DNA testing and subsequently handed over to their families.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed support for Bangladesh.
“Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families,” Modi wrote on X. “We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.”
A high-level committee within the Air Force has been formed to investigate the crash and determine the exact cause of the crash.