A Bangladeshi air force training jet has crashed into a school campus in the capital, Dhaka, killing 19 people and injuring about 164 others.
The aircraft slammed into a two-storey building of the Milestone School and College in the Northern suburb of Uttara, sparking a huge fire and thick smoke. The F-7 jet reportedly had a mechanical fault after taking off for a training exercise just after 13:00 local time (07:06 GMT).
According to a statement from the air force authorities, the pilot was among those killed, while more than 50 people, including children and adults, were taken to the hospital with burns, a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery said.
The age range for the school students is between four and 18 years old.
A teacher at the college, Rezaul Islam, said he witnessed the plane “directly” hitting the building, while another teacher, Masud Tarik, said he heard an explosion: “When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke… There were many guardians and kids here.”
The armed forces statement said the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam had tried to navigate the jet to a less populated area after the mechanical fault occurred. He had only just taken off from an air force base in the capital.
The injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals, while emergency teams continue rescue operations.
The statement added that an investigation committee has been formed to investigate the incident.
Bangladesh has announced a day of mourning on Tuesday, when the national flag will be flown half-mast across the country.
