At least 19 people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into buildings at a college campus in the capital Dhaka.
The F-7 BGI aircraft took off at 1.06pm local time and crashed roughly twelve minutes later in the Diabari area of Uttara in the northern part of the capital, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR).
The military aircraft crashed near the Milestone School and College canteen during lunchtime, Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo said, with large numbers of young students present at the time.
The death toll rose significantly from an initial toll of a single fatality after fire service and civil defence director general Brigadier General Mohammad Zahed Kamal arrived at the scene and briefed the media.
Videos posted to social media in the aftermath of the crash showed fire and smoke emanating from the scene as a crowd of students fled to open ground in panic.
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Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, said “necessary measures” would be taken to investigate the cause of the accident and “ensure all kinds of assistance”.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force… students, parents, teachers and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable,” he said.
A national day of mourning has been declared for Tuesday.
Panicked parents and relatives were seen rushing to the site of the crash later on Monday.
“A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital,” said Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where some victims were taken earlier. Details of the identities of other victims were not immediately available.
Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, described the moments he heard a loud explosion as he came to pick up his children.
“When I was picking [up] my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind… I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke,” he told Reuters.
A spokesperson from Milestone School and College said the aircraft crashed near the school gate when classes were underway.
“The plane fell on the gate and crashed nearby. A class was in session where the plane crashed. The injured are being taken out one by one,” the spokesperson said, according to BDnews24.
Bangladesh’s F-7 is a modern variant of China’s Chengdu F-7, itself modelled on the Soviet MiG-21. While considered outdated by global standards, it remains in service due to its cost-effectiveness and suitability for pilot training and limited combat roles. Its production ceased after China delivered the last of 16 units of F-7 BGIs to Bangladesh in 2013.
