Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of Schoolchildren in Bangladesh

A catastrophic plane crash in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday has claimed the lives of at least 31 individuals, predominantly schoolchildren, during what was expected to be a routine lunch break at Milestone School and College. The incident has sparked a national day of mourning, with many more suffering critical injuries.

Onlookers and students described the horrifying moment as a Chinese-built F-7 BGI fighter jet unexpectedly spiraled into the school building. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing students flung from the site of impact. The construction of the fighter jet, which had taken off from a military airbase nearby just minutes prior, was indicated as suffering from mechanical failure leading to the crash. Out of the injured, at least 78 individuals remain in critical condition across various medical facilities. In light of the tragedy, the Bangladeshi government has declared a day of mourning as communities grieve the loss of young lives and grapple with unanswered questions.

Mahathir Mohammed Abid, a student who witnessed the devastation and attempted to save younger classmates, expressed the emotional toll of the day's events. “I recovered the body of a young student with my own hands,” he shared. Meanwhile, families have been left in anguish searching for news of loved ones as authorities begin an investigation into the incident. This heartbreak has underscored the need for regulation and scrutiny of military aircraft operations in populated areas.