How Did a Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash Result in 27 Fatalities?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 25 of the deceased were children.
- The crash occurred in Uttara, Dhaka.
- At least 78 people are receiving treatment.
- The jet was an F-7 BGI training aircraft.
- Rescue operations involved the Bangladesh Army and Fire Service.
Dhaka, July 22 (NationPress) The tragic incident involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet has led to a heartbreaking death toll of 27, with 25 of the victims being students, authorities declared on Tuesday.
As reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Armed Forces of this South Asian nation, the F-7 BGI training aircraft took flight at 1:06 p.m. (local time) on Monday and ultimately crashed into the Milestone School and College building located in Uttara, Dhaka around 1:30 p.m.
During a press conference held on Tuesday morning, Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief advisor at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, provided updates on the casualties.
Rahman confirmed that at least 78 individuals are currently receiving medical treatment in various hospitals, with five in critical condition.
Among those who lost their lives, 25 were children — many under the age of 12 — suffering from severe burn injuries. The remaining victims include the aircraft's pilot and a female schoolteacher, as reported by the prominent Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star.
He mentioned that the bodies of 20 individuals have been returned to their families.
“We are making every effort to ensure adequate medical care. Nevertheless, the condition of some patients remains exceedingly critical,” he remarked.
Rahman also indicated that six bodies have not yet been identified, and DNA samples have been collected for analysis.
“Most of the injured are children. Their blood requirement is minimal. Additionally, the ICU at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) is prepared,” he further noted.
The ISPR reported that a total of 171 individuals were injured in this devastating occurrence.
Members of the Bangladesh Army, along with eight fire engines from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, promptly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue operations after the jet collided with the two-story building of Milestone School and College, as per a fire service notification released on Monday.
“On the first floor of this two-story structure, classes were in session for third and fourth graders. The second floor hosted classes for second and fifth graders,” stated Brigadier General Mohammad Zahed Kamal, the Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, according to the leading Bengali daily, Prothom Alo.
“A meeting room for the principal’s office was adjacent to this area, where a coaching class was actively taking place,” he added.