Flight Lieutenant Md. Towkir Islam Sagar, the pilot of the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft F-7 BGI that crashed into the compound of Milestone College in Uttara, has died. A reliable source confirmed the news.
According to ISPR, he died while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). According to initial reports, flight Lieutenant Taukir was unable to eject from the aircraft before the crash.
At least 19 people were killed and more than hundred injured in the fatal incident.
The injured, many of whom are in critical condition, being treated at National Burn Institute and in other hospitals in the capital.
Brigadier General Mohammad Zahid Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said at a press briefing in the afternoon that they had recovered 19 bodies from the scene.
Rescue teams, including the fire service, air force, and army personnel, have been working at the crash site to recover bodies and provide assistance to the injured.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with preliminary suspicions pointing to a possible mechanical failure. The Bangladesh Air Force and government have expressed their condolences and promised a thorough inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, the government has declared a one-day state mourning day following the crash of Air Force aircraft at Milestone College in Dhaka’s Uttara.
The mourning day will be observed tomorrow (Tuesday). Following this, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, and educational establishments across the country.
Additionally, flags will be lowered at all government and private buildings, as well as at Bangladeshi missions abroad.
Special prayers will be held in all religious places of worship throughout the country for the injured and deceased.
It is reported that the pilot of the training aircraft was Squadron Leader Towkir. Before the crash, he was unable to eject from the plane automatically. Officials initially suspect the accident was caused by a mechanical failure. The aircraft crashed within 12 minutes of takeoff. So far, no agency has been able to confirm the pilot’s latest status.
Eyewitnesses say that fire services, the air force, the army, and other rescue teams are working at the crash site.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the accident around noon and stated in a press release that the aircraft which crashed in Uttara was an F-7 BG1 model training plane.
The release mentioned that the plane took off at 1:06 PM.
Earlier, Lima Khanom, the duty officer at the fire service control room, said the plane crashed at 1:18 PM near Milestone School and College in Uttara.