Pope prays for victims of Bangladesh plane crash

Photo by aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

Source: Vatican News

At least 31 people were killed after a fighter jet belonging to Bangladesh's air force crashed into the Milestone School and College in the capital Dhaka on Monday. In a message sent today, Pope Leo said he was "deeply saddened' and "entrusts the deceased to the merciful love of the Almighty".

The message, signed by Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy Father is "praying that their families and friends may be consoled in their grief, and for the healing and comfort of the injured" and that he "invokes upon the entire school community and all affected by this tragedy, the divine blessings of peace and strength".

The incident is the deadliest airplane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in decades.

The pilot was among the dead, according to the Bangladeshi military, and 171 people, mostly students, were injured, many with burns.

The military said the jet took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in the Kurmitola neighbourhood at 1.06pm and crashed soon after, catching fire immediately. The military said the pilot tried to avoid densely populated areas, but hit a two-story building.

It said the aircraft experienced a "technical malfunction," adding that a high-level Air Force committee will investigate the cause.