Wednesday, July 23

At least 31 people are dead after an air force jet crashed into a school in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, sparking protests from students across the country.

The incident occurred on Monday when a Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force struck the Milestone School and College in the neighborhood of Uttara, which was full of children. The resulting explosion set the two-story building on fire, trapping students and teachers inside as smoke billowed out of the structure.

Most of the victims were children under 12, and a total of 25 students were killed. After rising several times, the current death toll stands at 31, making Bangladesh's worst aviation disaster in decades. Unfortunately, 68 people are still hospitalized with burns and other injuries, with 10 of them in critical condition, but many were saved by authorities' rapid response. Helicopters, fire trucks, ambulances, and other vehicles were quickly dispatched to deal with the situation, and at least 171 people were rescued by firefighters and local authorities.

The Bangladeshi military later confirmed that the F-7 jet had departed on a training mission when it experienced a severe mechanical failure, forcing the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, to make a crash landing. He attempted to steer the jet away from populated areas but ended up hitting the school-- the pilot was also killed in the explosion. Dozens of teachers and students had been standing outside the building as well, leaving them to watch the plane strike the school and wait in desperation as authorities arrived.

A thorough investigation into the incident has begun, and the country held a day of mourning yesterday for the victims of the crash, with all flags flying at half-mast for the entire day. However, protests have erupted across the city, with students calling for the government to retire aging machinery and instruct pilots to avoid flying near populated areas like Dhaka.

Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The first service animals were established in Germany during World War I, but references to service animals date back to the mid-16th Century.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life. (Heather Schuck)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jettison (verb, JET-uh-sun) - When you jettison something, you get rid of it either because it is not needed or because it is impeding your progress or otherwise weighing you down.

In a Sentence: Now that the purchase of the building has been finalized, we'll revamp what we want to keep and jettison the rest.