A BANGLADESH Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in the capital, Dhaka, shortly after takeoff today, killing at least 19 people.

The death toll continued to rise as the Morning Star went to print and included the pilot.

The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara while students were attending classes.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence said that at least 19 people, mostly students, died and another 116 were rescued with injuries. 

A significant number sustained burns.

The government announced a national day of mourning for tomorrow, with flags to fly at half-mast across the country.

The military said the jet took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker at 1.06pm local time and crashed soon after, catching fire.

It said the aircraft “experienced a technical malfunction” and that a high-level committee would investigate.

Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam made “every effort to divert the aircraft” but it crashed into a two-storey school building.

It is the deadliest airplane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory.

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus pledged an investigation and expressed sorrow over the “heartbreaking accident,” calling it “a moment of deep national grief.”