A devastating incident occurred on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a college and school campus in the capital city of Dhaka. The crash resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people, with more than 50 others hospitalized due to burn injuries.
The F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s northern area of Uttara at approximately 1 pm local time. The impact caused significant damage to the building, with videos showing a massive fire and thick smoke billowing into the sky. Firefighters and army members worked tirelessly to put out the flames and rescue those trapped.
According to Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, “A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, were admitted to the hospital.” Sarker’s statement highlights the severity of the incident, with multiple casualties and injuries reported.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene, with people screaming and crying as others tried to provide comfort. Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, recounted his terrifying experience: “When I was picking up my kids and went to the gate, I realized something came from behind…I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke.”
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, expressed his condolences and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the accident. “The loss suffered by the Air Force…students, parents, teachers, and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable,” he said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Yunus also announced the activation of an emergency hotline at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery to provide assistance to those affected.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the nation, with many expressing their grief and solidarity with the victims’ families. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has called for donations to support those injured in the crash. This tragic event follows another major aviation disaster involving an Air India plane that crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, India, last month, resulting in significant loss of life.