British Minister expresses deep condolences over plane crash in Uttara

British Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of lives caused by the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet in Uttara.

In an official statement released through the British High Commission in Dhaka, Minister West extended her heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for those injured.

“I am deeply saddened by the plane crash in Bangladesh, which claimed the lives of many children. My thoughts and sympathies are with the affected families and those injured,” she said.

The incident occurred shortly after 1 PM on Monday, when the training aircraft crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College in Uttara. The plane struck a school building, causing it to collapse and igniting a fire. At the time of the crash, many students were present inside the building, resulting in significant casualties.

Fire Service teams were immediately dispatched to the site, with eight units from Uttara and surrounding areas arriving to control the blaze and initiate rescue operations. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Bangladesh Army also joined the efforts. Victims were evacuated by Air Force helicopters to various hospitals for urgent medical treatment.

Tragically, the death toll has risen to 27, with over 100 people currently receiving treatment for their injuries.

The nation mourns this devastating loss and stands united in support of the victims and their families.