Bangladesh mourns as toll from jet crash at school hits 27

Families and teachers gathered Tuesday at a Bangladeshi school where a training fighter jet crashed, killing 25 children and two others in the country’s deadliest aviation accident in decades.

Most of the victims were pupils who had just been let out of class when the Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College on Monday.

“So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot,” said Sayedur Rahman from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, updating an earlier death toll of 20.

“Seventy-eight people are being treated in different hospitals,” added Rahman, special assistant to the ministry’s chief adviser.

More than 170 people were injured in the crash, said the military which is investigating the cause.

The usually bustling school was eerily quiet on Tuesday morning, with classes canceled.

“Along with the children, the school has lost its life,” said teacher Shahadat Hossain, whose son narrowly escaped the crash.

“There are two swings in front of the affected building. During lunch breaks and after school, children play there. Even yesterday, around the time the plane crashed, students were on those swings,” the 45-year-old told AFP.

Around 7,000 pupils are enrolled at the school, including Abul Bashar’s sixth-grade son whose best friend was killed.

“He came out just two or three minutes before the accident occurred,” said Bashar.

“He couldn’t sleep through the night and forced me to bring him to school this morning,” the father added, his son standing in silence.

School authorities have collected bags, shoes and identity cards of children from the site.

Pahn Chakma, a senior police officer, said that armed forces personnel are still sweeping the area.

“They will hand over the place to the police later, and we will then collect evidence, including any human remains or belongings of students and others,” Chakma said.

Air Force personnel on duty said the remnants of the fighter jet were removed on Monday night, but they are still scouring the site for evidence.