Dhaka: At least 19 people were killed and 60 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in the capital's Uttara area, Fire Service and Civil Defence sources confirmed. 'Nineteen people have so far been killed and 60 others injured in the jet crash,' Md Shajahan Sikder, media officer and assistant director of the FSCD, told BSS over the phone. He, however, said they have yet to confirm the identities of the deceased.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a BAF F7 jet crashed into a building of Milestone College around 1:18 pm. The aircraft had taken off at 1:06 pm, as stated by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) in a text message. However, over 100 individuals were also injured in the crash, with at least 83 receiving treatment in different city hospitals, as reported by a message from the CA press wing.
FSCD, army, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been conducting extensive rescue operations. Three platoons of BGB have been deployed at the crash site to assist with law enforcement and rescue efforts, as indicated in a BGB press release. An emergency hotline number 01949-043697 has been launched at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery following the jet crash.
One coach of the metro trains departing from Uttara has been reserved to transport the injured from the Milestone College. Over 30 people have so far been admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said its director Md Nasiruddin.
The government has declared a one-day state mourning following the crash of the Air Force aircraft at Milestone College in Dhaka's Uttara. The mourning day will be observed tomorrow, with the national flag flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, and educational establishments across the country. Additionally, the flag will be lowered at all government and private buildings, as well as at Bangladeshi missions abroad. Special prayers will be held in all religious places of worship throughout the country for the injured and deceased.
Chief Adviser to the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep shock and sorrow over the casualties in the tragic Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crash on the Milestone School and College campus at Diabari in the capital today. 'I express deep shock and sorrow over the casualties in the aircraft crash,' he said in a statement issued by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing this afternoon.