Two pilots of the rank of Squadron Leader of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) were killed as the K-8W training aircraft they were flying in crashed into a water body in Jashore sadar upazila on Sunday night.
Squadron Leader Md Serajul Islam and Sqn Ldr Enayet Kabir Polash had taken off from BAF Base Matiur Rahman on a night training mission with the Chinese-made K-8W, confirmed Rezaul Karim Shammee, Assistant Director of ISPR.
Manager at Jessore Airport Alamgir Pathan told news agency UNB that the aircraft crashed into the Bukbhora Baor of Faridpur village around 9:20pm, shortly after taking off from the BAF Base Matiur Rahman.
A joint rescue mission is underway and a high level committee has been formed for an inquiry, added ISPR assistant director.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Abul Bashar Miah said police and firefighters rushed to the spot.
Prior to the crash, the BAF already operated nine K-8Ws, an intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft popular in developing countries, and placed an order last month for another 23 from China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC, part of the Chinese state corporation AVIC).