Injured pilot dies at hospital
A pilot officer died and a squadron leader was injured when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed in Madhupur upazila of Tangail yesterday. Pilot Officer Shariful Haque succumbed to his injuries at Combined Military Hospital in Ghatail, reports our correspondent in Tangail.
Squadron Leader Muhammad Mamunur Rashid is receiving treatment at the hospital, an Inter-Services Public Relations press release said.
“Mamun sustained only minor cuts and bruises,” MA Masud, additional superintendent of police of Tangail, told The Daily Star yesterday.
Mohammad Ali, a witness, said the aircraft had circled twice over a paddy field before crashing into a marsh of Mohishmara Ghonapara area around 12:30pm.
He said that after Mamun ejected from the plane and reached the ground with his parachute, he called in locals to rescue Sharif from the wreckage of the Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft. Troops from the Ghatail Cantonment later took the injured men to the hospital.
The ISPR press release, however, said both the pilots had ejected from the plane before it crashed.
It also said a committee had been formed to investigate the accident.
Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operation and Training) Air-Vice Marshal Abu Esrar visited the scene along with other BAF high officials, the ISPR press release added.
Sharif’s death brings the number of BAF pilots killed in air crashes over the last three years to three.
CRASHES IN THE PAST
On December 20, 2010, two BAF pilots–squadron leaders Ashraf Ibne Ahmed and Mohammad Mahmudul Haque–were killed when their aircraft crashed near the main entrance of Barisal Airport.
On October 22, 2009, a BAF training aircraft crashed while trying to land at an airport in Arulia of Bogra. Two pilots–squadron leaders Jamal Uddin Ahmed and AAMM Shamsujjahan–were injured.
On September 23, 2010, a BAF fighter jet crashed into the Karnaphuli river near Patenga Boat Club. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Ahmed Sanjid escaped by ejecting.
On October 10, 2011, a fighter plane of Bangladesh Air Force crashed into Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong city. Flight Lt Muntasin managed to eject from the plane.
In addition on March 9, 2009, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 55 Infantry Division and Jessore Area Commander Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam and pilot Lt Col Md Shahidul Islam lost their lives when an army helicopter crashed into Rouha under Kalihati upazila in Tangail.
-With The Daily Star input
