Plane crash in Uttara: National mourning being observed

A one-day national mourning is being observed across Bangladesh on Tuesday in the wake of a tragic Air Force training jet crash that killed at least 27 people and injured more than 100 in Dhaka's Uttara area.

The accident occurred shortly after 1:00 PM on Monday, when a Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet crashed into a building on the campus of Milestone School & College. The aircraft and the school building immediately caught fire. Many of the casualties were students inside the building at the time.

Rescue efforts began promptly, with the Fire Service deploying eight units from Uttara and surrounding areas to control the blaze and assist victims. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Army later joined the operation. The injured were airlifted to hospitals by Air Force helicopters.

In response to the tragedy, the government announced Tuesday as a day of state mourning. A Cabinet Division notice stated that flags will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private institutions, as well as in educational institutions and Bangladeshi missions abroad.

Special prayers are being held in mosques across the country, seeking forgiveness for the deceased and recovery for the injured. Religious institutions of other faiths are also holding services.

The interim government expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “heartbreaking loss of innocent lives, including children.”

The cause of the crash is under investigation.