Online Report
The pilot of the Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter trainer jet that crashed in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday had attempted to steer the malfunctioning aircraft away from a densely populated zone, according to an official statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Flight Lieutenant Md Tawkir Islam reportedly made every effort to divert the aircraft toward a less-populated area after detecting a technical failure shortly after takeoff at 1:06 PM from the A.K. Khandaker Air Base in Kurmitola.
However, the jet tragically crashed into a two-storey building inside the Milestone School and College campus in Diabari, triggering a massive fire and causing widespread casualties.
So far, 19 deaths — including the pilot — have been confirmed, with at least 164 injured, most of them students, parents, and school staff.
A high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Air Force to determine the exact cause of the crash.
According to ISPR, the casualties are spread across multiple hospitals:
National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute: 70 injured, 2 deadCombined Military Hospital (CMH): 14 injured, 11 deadLubana General Hospital: 11 injured, 2 deadUttara Adhunik Hospital: 60 injured, 1 deadKurmitola General Hospital: No injured, 2 deadKuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital: 8 injured, no deathsUttara Crescent Hospital: 1 injured, no deaths
Fire Service and Civil Defence teams, along with the Army, Navy, BGB, and other emergency forces, continue rescue and relief operations.
Earlier, the Director General of the Fire Service had reported a preliminary death toll of 20.
A national day of mourning will be observed on Tuesday in honor of the victims. Flags will be flown at half-mast, and special prayers will be held across religious institutions throughout the country.