Following Monday’s (July 21) tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara, the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) has issued a statement regarding an “unfortunate occurrence” during the subsequent rescue operation.

The announcement, jointly shared Tuesday evening via the official social media platforms of the Bangladesh Army and ISPR, outlined the sequence of events and addressed public concerns.

According to the statement, the crash occurred at approximately 1:18 PM in the Diabari area of Uttara. The aircraft accident resulted in multiple casualties, including several children. Troops from a nearby army camp were deployed immediately to support the rescue mission, working alongside the fire service and other emergency responders to provide urgent medical assistance.

Despite their efforts, the rescue operation faced serious delays due to overwhelming crowds of onlookers at the crash site. Repeated requests to clear the area reportedly went unheeded by a large number of bystanders, significantly hindering evacuation efforts and endangering lives further. The army emphasized that their personnel, along with school volunteers, did their utmost to manage the situation professionally.

The statement also revealed that 14 army personnel involved in the rescue have since been admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) due to exhaustion and physical distress.

Later in the day, the difficulties in crowd control reportedly led to a misunderstanding between some of the onlookers and the rescue personnel. This miscommunication, the statement said, escalated into an “undesired event” at the scene.

The Bangladesh Army has initiated a formal investigation into the incident and has pledged that appropriate administrative actions will be taken against any individuals found responsible.

Reaffirming its commitment, the military stated that it remains dedicated to serving the nation with professionalism and integrity, especially in times of crisis.