Death toll rises to 27 in Bangladesh Air Force jet crash

Tragedy struck in Bangladesh on Monday after a military training jet crashed into a school and college campus in Dhaka, killing at least 27 people, including 25 children.

According to officials, the F-7 BGI aircraft, operated by the Bangladesh Air Force, went down shortly after taking off from the Kurmitola airbase at about 1:06 pm during a routine training exercise. The military has attributed the crash to a mechanical failure.

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The crash site located within the compound of Milestone School and College was engulfed in flames as rescue workers searched through scorched buildings for survivors and remains. Family members of students and staff gathered at the scene in grief and shock.

Sayedur Rahman, a special assistant to the chief health adviser, confirmed that 27 people lost their lives in the crash. Among the victims were 25 schoolchildren, a teacher, and the pilot. At least 88 others were hospitalised, most with severe burn injuries.

In response, the Bangladeshi government declared a national day of mourning, with flags ordered to fly at half-mast. Special prayers were also held across places of worship in honour of the victims.

The ill-fated aircraft was an F-7 BGI, a Chinese-made fighter jet and the most advanced version of the Chengdu J-7/F-7 series. Bangladesh acquired 16 of the jets under a 2011 defence agreement, with deliveries completed by 2013.

The incident comes barely a month after India suffered one of the deadliest air disasters in recent history, when an Air India flight crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground.