Flight Lieutenant Tawkir Islam, who was flying the ill-fated FT-7 BGI, tried to steer it towards a sparsely populated area to lower casualties, according to a statement issued in the afternoon by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
As the plane crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College, Tawkir and 18 others were killed and 164 others injured. Most of the victims are students of the school.
The ISPR statement signed by Assistant Director Ayesha Siddika notes that all the injured were swiftly transferred to the Combined Military Hospital and nearby hospitals with Air Force helicopters and ambulances.
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) fighter jet took off at 1:06pm today from Air Force Base A K Khandaker in Dhaka's Kurmitola area as part of a routine training exercise.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure and crashed. A high-level BAF investigation committee is working to determine the cause of the accident.
The BAF is deeply saddened by the incident and is actively engaged in providing full medical support and assistance to the victims.
Top armed officers, including the chief of army staff, visited the scene.
Comments