A Bangladesh Air Force training jet on Monday crashed into a college campus in the capital Dhaka, killing at least 19 people, according to the Fire Services.

More than 100 others suffered burn injuries, an official said.

Most of the victims were students and staff at the college, while the pilot -- the sole occupant of the jet -- was also among those hurt, authorities said.

The interim government has announced a state of mourning on Tuesday in the wake of the deadly crash.

The aircraft hit the building of the Milestone School and College in the Uttara neighborhood, with footage showing huge smoke and fire erupting from the site.

Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the interim government head, confirmed casualties, saying, "100 to 150 people," including 70 students, had suffered burn injuries and were admitted to hospitals across Dhaka.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media department, said the plane took off at 1.06 pm local time (0706GMT).

In July 2018, two pilots of the Bangladesh Air Force were killed as a trainer aircraft crashed in the southwestern Jessore district.

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14:30

A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed onto a school campus in northern Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 1 person and injuring others, according to the military and a fire official, AzVision.az reports, citing AP.

The aircraft crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College, in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood, where students were taking tests or attending regular classes. Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash.

Jamuna TV reported that at least 13 people, including students, were injured. Bengali-language Prothom Alo daily said most of the injured were students with burn injuries, with at least 20 people taken to a hospital.

Parents and relatives panicked at the scene as rescuers, using tri-cycle rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured.

Rafiqa Taha, a student at the school who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that Milestone School and College, with some 2,000 students, runs classes from elementary to twelfth grade. On Monday, she said, some students were taking tests while others attended regular classes.

The Bangladesh Army’s public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force. Fire official Lima Khanam stated by phone that at least one person died and four others were injured, though she did not provide further details.

AzVision.az

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