A Year 10 student named Farhan Hasan shared harrowing details of a recent tragedy when a Bangladeshi air force training jet crash-landed at his school, Milestone School and College, right after an exam. The incident, which occurred just after 1 PM local time, left at least 20 people dead and injured more than 170.
Farhan recounted seeing the burning aircraft strike the building, saying, "The plane went right over my best friend’s head... he died right in front of my eyes." Moments before the crash, many parents were present on campus to pick up their children, highlighting the chaotic circumstances of the event.
Witnesses reported an immense explosion followed by thick smoke and flames engulfing the area. Rezaul Islam, a teacher, noted that he saw the jet impact the school directly, while another teacher, Masud Tarik, described the terrifying scene of fire and smoke as crowds fled in panic.
Emergency responders quickly arrived, with over 30 ambulances transporting the injured to hospitals. Many of the victims are reportedly minors aged between 9 and 14 years, causing great sorrow among their families. The health ministry stated that victims were distributed across seven hospitals in Dhaka.
In the aftermath, Bangladesh's interim government declared a national day of mourning, with flags at half-mast. Investigators have been assigned to determine the cause of the accident, and the pilot, who tragically died, was reported to have attempted to divert the jet away from populated areas after a mechanical failure right after takeoff.
Muhammad Yunus, the leader of the interim government, expressed condolences and underscored the importance of aiding the injured and uncovering the accident's cause. The nation is in deep mourning as it deals with the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident.
