20 die as military jet crashes into school in Bangladesh

International

A BANGLADESH Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school compound in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon, leaving at least 20 people dead and injuring more than 170 others.

According to local authorities, the F-7 fighter jet reportedly encountered a mechanical failure shortly after taking off for a training exercise. It then slammed into a two-story building inside Milestone School and College, located in Uttara, a northern suburb of the city.

Footage from the scene captured flames and thick plumes of smoke engulfing the building moments after the crash.

A report by BBC stated that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, was among those killed. Officials said he had attempted to steer the malfunctioning aircraft away from populated areas but was unable to avoid the crash.

The health ministry confirmed that many of the victims were students who had just been dismissed from class. Seventeen of those who died were children, and dozens more were hospitalized with critical injuries, many suffering severe burns caused by jet fuel. Victims were taken to at least seven hospitals across the city.(Jeanette Arinque, HNU Comm Intern)