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Japan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
At least 20 killed as Bangladesh fighter jet crashes into school
A Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 170 in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. Many of the victims were young students who had just been let out of class when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College. An AFP photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while army personnel helped clear the mangled wreckage. A military statement said 20 people were killed, including the pilot, and 171 others were injured when the jet crashed following a mechanical failure. An 18-year-old student, Shafiur Rahman Shafi, said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake. "There were two fighter planes ... Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground)," he said. "It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then, it caught fire," he added. The well-known private school offers education to children from kindergarten through to senior secondary. Most of the injured were age between 8 and 14, said Mohammad Maruf Islam, joint director of Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute where many victims were treated. Grieving relatives of the victims thronged the hospital, while dozens of volunteers lined up to donate blood. Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed. "We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals," Hossain said. "He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body." Mohammad Sayedur Rahman, a Health and Family Welfare official, said at least seven bodies remained unidentified. The military said the pilot, flight lieutenant Towkir Islam, was on a routine training mission when the jet "reportedly encountered a mechanical failure." "The exact cause remains under investigation," it said in a statement. The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, "despite his best efforts," crashed into the two-story school building, the military added. It was Towkir's first solo flight, his uncle Motakabbir said. "His mother was nervous yet happy and had been eagerly waiting for the completion of her son's first solo flight," said Motakabbir, who uses only one name. Shuvra Ghosh, the aunt of one of the injured students, said her 8-year-old niece was rescued by a teacher who broke open a window to bring her out. "We are mentally traumatized," she said. The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday. Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident in a post on X. "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," he said. "This is a moment of profound pain for the nation." The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades. The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board. Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighboring India, killing 260 people. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives" in Dhaka. Relations between the neighbors have been strained since protesters in Bangladesh last year ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, an old ally of New Delhi. "India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance," Modi wrote on X.
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- General
- Eyewitness News
UPDATE: At least 19 killed as Bangladesh fighter jet crashes into school
DHAKA - A Bangladeshi training fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens more in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. An AFP photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while military personnel helped clear the wreckage. A military statement said 19 people were killed, including the pilot, and 20 others were critically wounded. At least 51 people, mostly students, were undergoing treatment at Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, its director Mohammad Nasir Uddin told AFP. The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft crashed moments after students were let out of class at 1:00 pm (0700 GMT) at the Milestone School and College. A witness said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake. "We have two playgrounds, one for the senior students and one for the juniors," said Shafiur Rahman Shafi, 18, who is enrolled at the school. "We were on the playground for the seniors. There were two fighter planes... Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground)," he told AFP. "It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later." The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday. 'WE FRANTICALLY SEARCHED' Grieving parents and relatives of the victims thronged the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute. Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed. "We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals," Hossain told AFP. "He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body." Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident in a post on X. "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," he said. "This is a moment of profound pain for the nation." The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades. The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board. Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighbouring India, killing 260 people.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Fighter jet crashes into Bangladesh school, 20 dead; over 170 injured
DHAKA: A Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 170 in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. Many of the victims were young students who had just been let out of class when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College. An AFP photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while army personnel helped clear the mangled wreckage. A military statement said 20 people were killed, including the pilot, and 171 others injured when the jet crashed following a mechanical failure. An 18-year-old student, Shafiur Rahman Shafi, said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake. "There were two fighter planes... Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground)," he told AFP. "It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later," he told AFP. The well-known private school offers education to children from kindergarten through to senior secondary. Most of the injured were aged between eight and 14, said Mohammad Maruf Islam, joint director of Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute where many victims were treated. Grieving relatives of the victims thronged the hospital, while dozens of volunteers lined up ready to donate blood. Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed. "We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals," Hossain told AFP. "He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body." The military said the pilot was on a routine training mission when the jet "reportedly encountered a mechanical failure." "The exact cause remains under investigation," it said in a statement. The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, "despite his best efforts", crashed into the two-storey school building, the military added. The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday. Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident in a post on X. "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," he said. "This is a moment of profound pain for the nation." The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades. The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board. Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighbouring India, killing 260 people. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives" in Dhaka. Relations between the neighbours have been strained since protesters in Bangladesh last year ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, an old ally of New Delhi.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
At least 20 killed as Bangladesh fighter jet crashes into school
A Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital, Dhaka, today, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 170 in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. Many of the victims were young students who had just been let out of class when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College. A photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while army personnel helped clear the mangled wreckage. A military statement said 20 people were killed, including the pilot, and 171 others injured when the jet crashed following a mechanical failure. An 18-year-old student, Shafiur Rahman Shafi, said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake. "There were two fighter planes... Suddenly, one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground)," he said. "It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later," he said. The well-known private school offers education to children from kindergarten through to senior secondary. Most of the injured were aged between eight and 14, said Mohammad Maruf Islam, joint director of Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, where many victims were treated. Grieving relatives of the victims thronged the hospital, while dozens of volunteers lined up ready to donate blood. Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed. "We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals," Mr Hossain said. "He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body." 'Deep grief and sorrow' The military said the pilot was on a routine training mission when the jet "reportedly encountered a mechanical failure". "The exact cause remains under investigation," it said in a statement. The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas, but "despite his best efforts", crashed into the two-storey school building, the military added. The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning tomorrow. Mr Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident in a post on X. "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," he said. "This is a moment of profound pain for the nation." The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades. The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board. Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighbouring India, killing 260 people. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives" in Dhaka. Relations between the neighbours have been strained since protesters in Bangladesh last year ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, an old ally of New Delhi.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- General
- Business Recorder
At least 20 killed as Bangladesh fighter jet crashes into school
DHAKA: A Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 170 in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. Many of the victims were young students who had just been let out of class when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College. An AFP photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while army personnel helped clear the mangled wreckage. A military statement said 20 people were killed, including the pilot, and 171 others injured when the jet crashed following a mechanical failure. An 18-year-old student, Shafiur Rahman Shafi, said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake. 'There were two fighter planes… Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground),' he told AFP. 'It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later,' he told AFP. Death toll in India plane crash rises to at least 279 The well-known private school offers education to children from kindergarten through to senior secondary. Most of the injured were aged between eight and 14, said Mohammad Maruf Islam, joint director of Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute where many victims were treated. Grieving relatives of the victims thronged the hospital, while dozens of volunteers lined up ready to donate blood. Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed. 'We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals,' Hossain told AFP. 'He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body.' 'Deep grief and sorrow' The military said the pilot was on a routine training mission when the jet 'reportedly encountered a mechanical failure'. 'The exact cause remains under investigation,' it said in a statement. The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, 'despite his best efforts', crashed into the two-storey school building, the military added. The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday. Yunus expressed 'deep grief and sorrow' over the incident in a post on X. '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,' he said. 'This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.' The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades. The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board. Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighbouring India, killing 260 people. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives' in Dhaka. Relations between the neighbours have been strained since protesters in Bangladesh last year ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, an old ally of New Delhi. 'India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance,' Modi wrote on X.
