Dhaka: At least 27 people were killed and more than 170 injured when a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a school campus in Dhaka. The crash, which occurred on Monday, marks the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades, authorities reported.
According to Deutsche Welle, the incident involved a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft that took off at 1:06 pm local time and crashed shortly after at the Milestone School and College campus. The school, located in the Uttara neighborhood, was in session at the time, with students ranging from elementary to 12th grade present.
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus stated that the bodies of those identified would be returned to their families promptly. For those whose identities are not immediately clear, DNA testing will be conducted to ensure proper identification before handover. Yunus also urged the general public to avoid unnecessary crowding at hospitals to ensure smooth medical operations for the injured.
Footage from the scene captured a large fire on the school grounds, with thick smoke visible from a distance. Firefighters were seen spraying water on the wreckage, which had collided with a building, causing significant structural damage. The reason behind the crash is currently unknown, and an investigation has been announced by the government.
This incident is the deadliest air crash in Bangladesh in over 40 years, following the 1984 disaster where a plane from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, resulting in 49 fatalities. The crash follows closely on the heels of another tragic aviation event in India, where an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives, including those on the ground.