SM Akash: An Air Force training fighter jet crashed in Patenga. Pilot Squadron Leader Asim Jawad was killed. The condition of the other injured wing commander Sohan is stable. The accident took place at the mouth of Karnaphuli river in Patenga on Thursday morning (09 May).
Shah Amanat International Airport’s Airport Manager Group Captain Taslim Ahmed said over the phone that the plane crashed soon after taking off from Zahurul Haq base in Patenga around 10:30 am.
Shakila Soltana, Deputy Commissioner of City Police (Port) when asked over phone, said that the plane caught fire immediately after take-off. Later it fell into pieces and scattered in Karnaphuli river behind the boat club. The pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft parachuted down. Pilot squadron leader Asim Jawad died around 12:30 pm after they were rescued and taken to hospital.
This police officer also said that the naval police will do the handing over of the dead body and the post-mortem will be done. A senior naval officer confirmed that the condition of the other injured Wing Commander Sohan is stable.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Air Force’s YAK 130 training fighter crashed ‘due to a mechanical fault’. The Russian-made YAK 130 is said to be an advanced jet training aircraft. Through this, the fourth and fifth generation fighter jets can be trained. It can also be used as a light combat aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft. Bangladesh Air Force has dozens of such aircraft in its fleet.
After this accident in the estuary of the Karnaphuli river, the movement of ships was stopped for some time. The alert was later lifted, port authorities said. Deceased Squadron Leader Asim Jawad passed SSC in 2007 and HSC in 2009 with GPA-5 from Savar Cantonment School and College. Joined Bangladesh Air Force Academy (BAFA) in 2010 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in December 2011.
He flew PT-6, L-39ZA,F-7MB,F-BG1 etc. He was an operational pilot and element leader of F-7MG1 in the United Nations Mission in “Democratic Republic of Congo”. Traveled to China, India, Turkey and Pakistan for various courses. Till his death was employed at Flying Instructor’s School of B.A. .FA as Staff Instructor.
Asim Jawad has received the prestigious “Sword of Honor” for excellence in all aspects of his training career. He is the only “Sword of Honor” winner from S.C.P.S.C till now. He received the “Mofiz Trophy” for excellence in “Flying Instructors” Course. He also received praise from the Chief of Air Staff for his responsibility and efficiency at work.
The death of Jawad, the father of a two-year-old daughter, has left a shadow of grief among colleagues in the Air Force as well as the Army and Navy.
