Bangladesh Mourns After Deadly Plane Crash During School Lunch Break
Context:
A tragic accident occurred when a Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka, resulting in the deaths of 31 individuals, most of whom were schoolchildren. The incident happened during the students' lunch break, leading to a national outpouring of grief and the declaration of a day of mourning. The Chinese-built F-7 BGI jet, which had departed from a nearby military base, suffered a mechanical failure, leading to the catastrophic crash. Many of the injured, totaling 165, were taken to various hospitals, with some in critical condition. The tragedy deeply affected the local community, including a heroic act by a student who tried to rescue others, and the desperate search by families for missing loved ones amidst the devastation.
Dive Deeper:
The fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College during the students' lunch break, resulting in the deaths of 31 people, including the pilot and mostly schoolchildren.
The crash led to a massive fire and explosion, with eyewitnesses describing the scene as chaotic and devastating, as evidenced by the accounts of teachers and students present at the time.
An investigation was promised by officials after it was determined that a mechanical failure caused the Chinese-built F-7 BGI jet to crash shortly after takeoff from a nearby military air base.
In response to the tragedy, Bangladesh declared a day of mourning, and the local community was overwhelmed with grief, as observed by the emotional gatherings of students and families at the crash site.
Mahathir Mohammed Abid, a 12th-grade student, attempted to rescue younger students from the burning building and suffered burns himself, highlighting the bravery and trauma experienced by those involved.
A significant number of individuals, 165 in total, were wounded, with 78 receiving treatment in hospitals, and the bodies of 20 victims had been returned to their families.
The crash prompted frantic searches by families for missing children, exemplified by Sagor Hossain's search for his niece, which ended with the discovery of her scorched belongings, leaving families in anguish over the fate of their loved ones.