Tragic Aircraft Crash in Dhaka Claims 18 Lives

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- A tragic incident occurred on Monday when a training aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a school in Dhaka, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 individuals, including the pilot, and injuring 164 others. The Chinese-manufactured F-7 BGI aircraft went down shortly after taking off from a nearby airbase, impacting the Milestone School and College located in the Uttara neighborhood during class hours.

The military reported that the aircraft took off at approximately 1:06 p.m. local time and crashed shortly thereafter, igniting a fire upon impact. As of now, the precise cause of the accident remains undetermined. This incident marks one of the deadliest airplane crashes in Dhaka's recent history.

Eyewitness accounts and local media indicate that the majority of the injured are students. In the aftermath of the crash, frantic relatives rushed to the site, where rescuers utilized available means, including tricycle rickshaws, to transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

One student, who was not on campus at the time of the crash, expressed her shock after viewing the incident on television. The school, which enrolls around 2,000 students, offers education from elementary through twelfth grade.

The interim leader of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, has pledged a thorough investigation into the incident, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of life and the impact on families and the community. In a statement, he described the crash as a moment of deep national mourning, highlighting the significant and tragic loss sustained by the families of the victims, including Air Force personnel, students, teachers, and staff.