Training aircraft crashes in SW Bangladesh; pilot killed

Dhaka, Apr 24 (UNI) A training aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force crashed in southwestern Bangladesh today, killing its pilot.

Director of Inter-service public relations (ISPR) Col Nazrul, said Flight Cadet Wing Under Officer Taniul Islam of Jessore Air Force Academy was killed instantly, when the PT-6 aircraft (Primary Trainer-6) plunged into a field at village Mohorrompur in Jhenaidah district at about 1135 hours local time.

The aircraft was on a training mission, which left the Airforce Academy in Jessore at 1045 hours, Col Nazrul said.

Flight Cadet Taniul Islam joined Bangladesh Air Force as flight cadet on July 20, 2004 and was undergoing training at Bangladesh Air Force Academy.

Chief of Bangladesh Air Force Air Vice-Marshall Fakhrul Azam visited the scene of the accident.

''In preliminary investigation, technical fault has been assumed as the cause of the accident,'' Col Nazrul said.

A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the plane crash.

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