Bangladesh Fighter Jet Crashes Into School, Killing 27 Including 25 Children
DHAKA – At least 27 people, including 25 schoolchildren, were killed when a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College on Monday, marking the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades.
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, slammed into the two-storey school building just moments after students were dismissed from classes. Over 170 others were injured, with 78 still receiving treatment at various hospitals, according to officials.
Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confirmed the death toll and said that the majority of the victims were children.
The Bangladesh military stated that the pilot was on a routine training mission when the jet “reportedly encountered a mechanical failure.” Despite attempting to steer the jet away from residential areas, it crashed into the densely populated school campus.
“The exact cause remains under investigation,” the military added in an official statement.
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus declared Tuesday a day of national mourning, expressing “deep grief and sorrow” on social media.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” Yunus said.
Flags were flown at half-mast across the country as rescue teams continued operations at the site.
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