Deadly Aviation Accident in Bangladesh: 19 Killed, 164 Injured

Strategic Insights -

A devastating aviation accident occurred on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka, killing at least 19 people, mostly children, and injuring 164. The F-7 BGI aircraft, a Chinese-manufactured training fighter jet, crashed into the two-storey building of Milestone School and College in the city's Uttara area. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, was among those killed in the tragic incident. The aircraft had taken off from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola as part of a regular training exercise before crashing due to a mechanical fault.

Key Takeaways:

  • 19 people, including the pilot, were killed in the crash, with the majority being children.
  • 164 people were injured in the accident, with all injured individuals being promptly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
  • The aircraft, a Chinese-manufactured F-7 BGI, was part of a regular training exercise when it crashed due to a mechanical fault.
  • The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas, but it ultimately crashed into the two-storey building of the school.
  • A high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Bangladesh Air Force to determine the cause of the accident.
  • Senior military officers, including the chief of army staff, rushed to the crash site to oversee rescue operations, which were also assisted by firefighters, army troops, police, and the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
  • The Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and nearby hospitals are providing treatment to the injured individuals, with assistance from Air Force helicopters and ambulances.

Statistics:

  • 19 people killed in the crash, including the pilot.
  • 164 people injured in the accident.
  • 2-storey building of the school was hit by the falling aircraft.
  • The accident occurred at 01:06 pm on a regular training exercise from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola.
  • 5 hours after the crash, all injured individuals were being treated at nearby hospitals.

Sources:

  • Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), the media wing of the military
  • Bangladesh Air Force
  • Combined Military Hospital (CMH)
  • Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)