In a heartbreaking incident yesterday, a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka, resulting in significant casualties and injuries. At least 20 lives were lost, and 171 individuals, many of them children, are reported injured, with around 25 in critical condition. The crash is believed to have stemmed from a mechanical error during the aircraft's takeoff from a nearby military airbase.
The military has confirmed that the jet collided with the second floor of the school, where third and fourth graders were attending classes. This tragic event occurred in the northern part of Dhaka, adjacent to the city’s international airport and a military base. "I saw the windows of the aircraft shattered, and it was burning up in flames, with black smoke rising into the sky," recalled Emon Islam, a nearby high school student who witnessed the crash.
The pilot, who also perished in the incident, was reportedly attempting to divert the aircraft to a less crowded area during the emergency. As the community grapples with this disaster, it highlights the urgent need for discussions on aviation safety and the safeguarding of educational environments in densely populated areas.
