DACA (Reuters)-At least 19 people died when a Bangladesh Air Force training plane crashed into a college and school campus in the capital, DaCa, on Monday, a fire officer said.
More than 50 people, including children and adults, were hospitalized with burns, a doctor from the National Institute for Burns and Plastic Surgery told reporters.
The incident occurred at the Milestone School and College, in the northern area of Uttara, in Daca, according to the authorities.
“Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft fell into Uttara. The aircraft took off at 1:06 pm (4:06 Brasília),” said the military’s public relations department in a statement.
Videos after the fall showed a large fire near a lawn with a thick cloud of smoke in the sky while people watched from a distance.
The firefighters sprayed water in the remains of the plane, which seemed to have crashed into the side of a building, damaging iron bars and creating a hole in the structure, according to Reuters TV images.
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“A third grade student was brought dead and three others, 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital,” said Bidhan Sarker, head of the Dacaca School of Medicine and Hospital Burning Unit, where some victims were taken.
The images also showed people shouting and crying while others tried to comfort them.
“When I was taking my children and went to the gate, I realized that something came from behind … I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke,” said Masud Tarik, a school teacher.
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Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government of Bangladesh, stated that the “necessary measures” will 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, staff and others in this accident is irreparable,” he said.
