BANGLADESH PLANE CRASHES INTO SCHOOL
An aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force has crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka. So far, at least 20 people have died and 171 have been injured. The pilot was among those who died.
Labelled the country’s deadliest air incident in recent memory, the crash took place at Milestone School and College.
Most of those injured are students who were attending classes at the school.
The BAF F7 hit the two-story building at around 13:18 local time on Monday. It’s believed the accident was caused by a mechanical fault.
The military told state media BSS News that the pilot made “every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location”.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
In honour of those who have died and have been injured, the government has announced a day of mourning and special prayers.
Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader, posted on X: “I express my deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of casualties caused by the crash.”
“This is a moment of profound pain for the nation. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and direct all concerned authorities, including hospitals, to address the situation with the utmost priority,” Yunus added.
Image credit: Newsroom Post