BAF aircraft crashes in Karnaphuli

An FT-6 training aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed into the Karnaphuli river channel at Patenga yesterday morning. Flight Lt Abdullah-Al-Mamun--the only person onboard--ejected and landed safely by parachute, said an Inter-service Public Relations (ISPR) press release. The fighter-trainer aircraft crashed at 11:33am immediately after taking off from Sergeant Zahirul Haq Airbase at Patenga for a regular training flight, said sources at the airbase.
Right after the take-off the aircraft appeared to be malfunctioning and caught fire before crashing into water near the Karnaphuli estuary, they added. Divers of Bangladesh Navy with the help of locals rescued the pilot from the estuary and rushed him to the nearby Naval Hospital, said Commander Anwar of Naval Academy at Patenga. The pilot was not injured, he added. A naval rescue team was searching for the wreckage at the "bravo point" of the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port, sources said. "There was a bang, the plane became unstable in the air before it caught fire and crashed into the water," said Jasim and Hanif who along with three others rushed to the spot and rescued the pilot. "Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman went to Chittagong by helicopter and inspected the place of accident and gave necessary instructions to all concerned with the rescue operation. A high-level investigation committee was formed in this regard," said the ISPR press release. The air force chief also visited the pilot at the Navy Hospital.

Posted in: Fighter jet,Training aircraft