NEW DELHI: At least 25 children were among the 27 people killed when a Bangladesh Air Force plane crashed into a college and school campus in the capital city of Dhaka on Monday.
Here is a look at what happened.
HOW DID THE CRASH OCCUR?
The fighter aircraft took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) from the air force base in Dhaka’s Kurmitola for a routine training mission, but experienced a mechanical failure soon after.
The pilot attempted to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas to minimize civilian casualties and damage, but his efforts were unsuccessful and the jet crashed into a building.
WHERE DID THE PLANE GO DOWN?
The two-story building that the plane rammed into belonged to the Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Diabari area, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the air force base.
Visuals from the scene showed the mangled remains of the aircraft dented into the side of the building, dismantling its iron grills and creating a gaping hole in the structure.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED?
The bodies of at least 27 people, including 25 children, a teacher, and the jet’s pilot, were pulled out from the debris.
More than 100 children and 15 other people were also injured, of whom 78 are still admitted in hospitals with burn injuries.
WHICH AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT?
The jet was an F-7 fighter aircraft — the final and most advanced variant in China’s Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane’s Information Group.
Bangladesh had signed a contract in 2011 for 16 such planes, and deliveries were completed by 2013.
HOW HAVE AUTHORITIES REACTED?
The Bangladesh Air Force has formed a high-level investigation committee to probe the cause of the accident.
Muhammad Yunus, the head of the country’s interim government, has also vowed to “take all necessary measures” to investigate its cause.
In the meantime, the government says it is providing “all kinds of assistance” to those affected.
