Dhaka: An investigation into the tragic crash of an Air Force training aircraft at Milestone School and College has pinpointed pilot error as the cause and recommended relocating initial Air Force training sessions outside Dhaka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the probe body determined that the incident was a result of the pilot losing control due to operational mistakes during flight. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, revealed these findings at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.
Earlier, Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, head of the investigation committee and Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, submitted the report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The crash, which occurred on July 21, claimed 36 lives, including 28 students, three teachers, three parents, one staff member, and the pilot.
The investigation committee, formed on July 29, conducted interviews with around 150 individuals, including experts, eyewitnesses, and victims' families, compiling 168 pieces of information. The committee put forward 33 recommendations to the government based on their findings.
One significant revelation from the investigation was that the school building did not comply with the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) of RAJUK. The structure had only one staircase instead of the mandated three, which could have mitigated the number of casualties.
The report also underscored several safety concerns related to airports and air operations, highlighting a shortage of aircraft in the Air Force and the necessity of equipping airport fire stations with foam tenders for effective fire control in aviation-related incidents.
Furthermore, the report advised the Civil Aviation Authority to enforce strict height restrictions and ban high-risk establishments, such as schools and hospitals, within the take-off and landing funnel zones near airports to avert future disasters. The committee also called for the proper maintenance of airstrips nationwide to ensure safe aviation operations.
Chief Adviser Professor Yunus instructed the expansion of the runways at Barishal and Bogura airports to enhance capacity for both military and civil aviation. He also stressed the need for strict adherence to BNBC regulations in areas under Rajuk's jurisdiction, such as Savar, Kanchan, and Tarabo municipalities, to ensure construction safety.
Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad, and Assistant Press Secretary Shuchismita Tithi attended the briefing.