‘We saw the plane in flames, pilot trying to jump’: Milestone College student recounts horror

Hasbya Rahman, a Class-XII student of Milestone College in the capital's Uttara, recalled today the harrowing moments of the Bangladesh Air Force jet crash that unfolded before her eyes on the institution's compound at noon on the day.

"We saw the plane engulfed in flames as it heading towards us, then it crashed directly into the building," said Hasbya, who was in her classroom during the deadly crash, but escaped the incident.

"We were in our classroom at that time. It was our last period of the day, but the teacher had not yet arrived. So, a few of us were chatting in the classroom. Suddenly, we felt a huge tremor coupled with a loud noise ripping through the entire campus," she shared with TBS.

Hasbya said they could not understand immediately what caused the bang. "We ran to the classroom window, and saw a plane on fire approaching our campus."

She said the rear part of the aircraft was already ablaze in the sky. "The plane was descending rapidly, and looked like it was going to crash somehow."

Hasbya added that they saw the pilot trying to jump from the burning plane, from a height of some 500-600 feet. "But I'm not sure if he was successful."

At one point, the plane in a terrible condition struck directly against the school building, which accommodates classrooms for Class-I to Class-VIII. "A number of students were in the classroom, even though some classes had concluded for the day. However, the lessons for certain classes were ongoing."

"We saw right before our eyes that as soon as the plane crashed, the whole building erupted in flames. Smoke and screams filled the air," Hasbya added.

She said some teachers were desperately trying to get the children out of the building. "But many got trapped due to the fire and smoke."

Hasbya remarked that the sight of small children being burned right before her eyes will forever remain etched in her mind.