
Bangladesh Air Force Training Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School, 19 Killed And More Than 170 Injured

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Special Prayers Held For Victims As Bangladesh Jet Crash Toll Rises To 32
Bangladesh: Special prayers were held across Bangladesh on Friday, as the death count from a fighter jet crash into a school building in Dhaka rose to 32. Most of the dead were children -- the youngest aged nine -- after the Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College on Monday following a mechanical failure. The authorities earlier said 31 people were killed and 170 injured in the deadliest aviation disaster in the country in decades. The latest to succumb to her injuries was 10-year-old Tasnim Afroz Ayman, hospital coordinator Sarkar Farhana Kabir told AFP. "She was undergoing treatment in the High Dependency Unit with 45 percent burns," she said. Ayman's uncle, Saiful Islam, said she remained calm and composed despite undergoing excruciating pain during her final hours. "Even last night, she consoled her mother. But God had other plans," Saiful told AFP. As of Friday, 51 others were receiving treatment in various city hospitals. Following a government directive, all mosques across the country held special prayers during the Friday congregation. Ashraful Islam, who came to pray at a mosque close to the school, lost both his children -- Tahia Ashraf Nazia, 13, and Arian Ashraf Nafi, 9. "I have nothing left," Ashraful told reporters. Nazia kept asking about her younger brother Nafi until her last breath, he added. Her final request was for an ice cream, said her aunt Naznin Akhter. "I'm burning inside. Give me some ice cream... and don't let go of my hand," were her last words, she told a local TV channel. India and Singapore have sent doctors specialising in burn care to assist their Bangladesh colleagues. A military investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the accident. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)


News18
a day ago
- News18
MiG-21 Legacy: When India's Mach 2 Jet Outclassed Pakistan's F-104
The MiG-21FL shot down four F-104s with its 23mm missile. Nicknamed 'The Widowmaker', the F-104 was retired by Pakistan post-war, unable to match the MiG-21's agility Nearly 62 years after it first took to the skies, the legendary MiG-21 is set to bid farewell to active service in the Indian Air Force. Once India's answer to America's denial of the F-104 Starfighter, this Soviet-origin jet emerged as a symbol of speed, agility, and aerial dominance. As the IAF prepares to retire its last MiG-21 squadron, it marks the end of an era defined by the jet's historic triumphs over Pakistan's F-104 Starfighter and France's Mirage III in multiple air battles. MiG-21 Got The NATO Tag 'Fishbed' NATO dubbed India's MiG-21 as 'Fishbed'. The MiG-21, introduced into the Indian Air Force in the 1960s, was a Soviet Union marvel. Its compact, lightweight design and Mach 2 speed made it an instant favourite. Known for its simplicity, robustness, and cost-effective maintenance, the MiG-21 proved lethal in combat. India began manufacturing it under licence through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 1963. Pakistan's F-104 Starfighter Proved Overhyped Pakistan's F-104 Starfighter, hailed as a 'missile with a man" by the US, was sleek and fast, but in combat, it proved far less effective than India's rugged MiG-21. While the F-104's thin, straight wings gave it impressive speed, they also made the aircraft difficult to handle and less maneuverable in dogfights. In contrast, the MiG-21, known for its agility and robustness, outperformed the Starfighter multiple times during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, exposing the limitations of Pakistan's much-hyped jet. The MiG-21FL managed to shoot down four F-104s with its 23mm missile. The F-104 which earned the grim nickname 'The Widowmaker', was eventually retired by Pakistan post-war, unable to match the agility and manoeuvrability of the MiG-21. The MiG-21's superior agility, tighter turn rate, and easier maintenance made it far more effective in air combat, contributing to multiple aerial victories and ultimately proving to be the more reliable fighter. What Makes India's MiG-21 Iconic? The MiG-21's affordability and ease of maintenance made it special for India. While the F-104 required extensive infrastructure and support to operate, the MiG-21 could function effectively with minimal resources, making it far more practical in combat scenarios. Its Tumansky R-25 engine, capable of producing 97.4 kilonewtons of power at low altitude, coupled with its delta wing design, allowed swift turns and rapid flight, crucial during the 1971 war. The MiG-21 not only defeated the F-104 but significantly contributed to Bangladesh's independence. A rocket strike on Dhaka's Governor's House forced the Pakistani leadership to capitulate. Furthermore, the MiG-21 demonstrated its prowess in the Kargil war of 1999 and the Balakot attack in 2019, marking its legacy in India's military history. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
"Also My Children": Teacher Dies Saving Students In Bangladesh Jet Crash
Dhaka: When a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into her school and erupted in a fireball on Monday, Maherin Chowdhury rushed to save some of the hundreds of students and teachers facing mortal danger, placing their safety before her own. The 46-year-old English teacher went back again and again into a burning classroom to rescue her students, even as her own clothes were engulfed in flames, her brother, Munaf Mojib Chowdhury, told Reuters by telephone. Maherin died on Monday after suffering near total burns on her body. She is survived by her husband and two teenaged sons. "When her husband called her, pleading with her to leave the scene and think of her children, she refused, saying 'they are also my children, they are burning. How can I leave them?'" Chowdhury said. At least 29 people, most of them children, were killed when the F-7 BGI crashed into the school, trapping them in fire and debris. The military said the aircraft had suffered mechanical failure. "I don't know exactly how many she saved, but it may have been at least 20. She pulled them out with her own hands," he said, adding that he found out about his sister's act of bravery when he visited the hospital and met students she had rescued. The jet had taken off from a nearby air base on a routine training mission, the military said. After experiencing mechanical failure the pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it crashed into the campus. The pilot was among those killed. "When the plane crashed and fire broke out, everyone was running to save their lives, she ran to save others," Khadija Akter, the headmistress of the school's primary section, told Reuters on phone about Maherin. She was buried on Tuesday in her home district of Nilphamari, in northern Bangladesh.