A Bangladeshi Air Force training jet crashed into a school campus in Dhaka on July 21 (Monday).
In a statement, the Bangladesh Army said several injured victims were immediately rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka by helicopter and ambulance.
20 lives were lost in the incident
As of the latest update, 20 people (including the pilot) have been confirmed dead and over 170 others injured in the incident.
“The Bangladesh Army is deeply saddened by this tragic incident and extends heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured. All relevant agencies, including CMH, are doing everything they can to ensure the best possible care for the victims,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, BBC reported that video footage from Milestone School and College in Uttara showed thick smoke and flames after the jet crashed into a two-storey building.
The F-7 jet reportedly suffered a mechanical issue shortly after taking off for a training exercise at around 1:00 PM local time (07:06 GMT).
Many of the injured suffered severe burns from jet fuel
Many of the victims were reportedly students who had just finished school when the jet came crashing down.
According to the armed forces, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam tried to steer the aircraft toward a less crowded area after experiencing a mechanical issue. He had only just taken off from an air force base in Dhaka.
An on-duty doctor from Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital revealed that most of the injured were between 10 and 15 years old, many of them suffering from serious jet fuel burns.
Over at Dhaka’s National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, large crowds gathered, among them were desperate families searching for news about their loved ones and kind-hearted volunteers lining up to donate blood.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Also read: Woman Who Was Meant to Be on Crashed Air India Flight Says She Missed It by Just 10 Minutes
