The aircraft had crashed into the Bookbhora oxbow lake in Jessore Sadar upazila’s Deyara union
Two pilots of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) were killed last night when training aircraft they were flying in crashed into a water body in Jessore.
The K-8W being flown by Squadron Leader Md Serajul Islam and Squadron Leader Enayet Kabir Polash crashed into a baor, or oxbow lake in Jessore Sadar upazila around 9:20pm, Rezaul Karim Shammee, assistant director of ISPR told the UNB.
Jessore Airport Manager Alamgir Pathan told the Dhaka Tribune the aircraft had crashed into the Bookbhora oxbow lake in Sadar upazila’s Deyara union.
ISPR’s AD Rezaul said the Chinese-made K-8W had taken off from BAF Base Matiur Rahman on a night training mission.
A rescue mission is underway and a high level committee has been formed for an inquiry, he added.
Deyara Union Parishad Chairman Anisur Rahman said the plane had crashed into the lake, which is adjacent to Faridpur village.
An official carrying debris from the crashed Air Force trainer aircraft in the Bookbhora lake in Jessore Sadar Upazila’s Deyara union, July 1, 2018 <strong>Dhaka Tribune</strong>
“There is raining in the area,” he added.
Locals Rasel and Rabiul Islam told journalists gathered at the spot that sometime after 9pm, the plane crashed into the Bookbhora lake with a deafening sound. Several local fishermen moved towards the plane with boats.
Several units from the Fire Service Jessore station and ambulances from local hospitals rushed to the spot as the news of the accident spread. But the vehicles could not get close to the lake due to bad roads.
The rescuers crossed 3km on foot before reaching Bookbhora, and began their operations on boat.
Shahidul Islam, a journalist who is at the spot, told the Dhaka Tribune the rescuers were there by 10:30pm. Locals did not wait around, rather took several boats and began to help with the recovery of the plane.
Hundreds of villagers also gathered around the lake.
According to locals the site of the accident is southwest of Arichapur Bazarghat. Journalist Saiful Islam, who is at the spot, said the plane had crashed about 200 metres from the lake’s shore.
There was jet fuel on the surface of the water. According to various sources the depth of the lake is about 26 feet. The water is higher now due to monsoon.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
