Jessore GOC, pilot die in copter crash
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
An army helicopter crashed in Tangail district Monday morning, killing two army officers, including GOC of 55 Infantry Division Major General Rafiqul Islam, and injuring another, reports UNB.
General Rafiq and pilot of the helicopter Lt Col Shahidul Islam died on the spot while co-pilot Major Saif sustained serious injuries in the fatal mishap, which came as a double shock when the nation still mourns the Peelkhana tragedy in which a number of army officers were slain.
An ISPR press release in Dhaka and local people said the Bell 206 helicopter of Army Aviation crashed after hitting an electric wire at Rouha near Elenga in Kalihati Upazila of the district at about 7:50am.
The accident took place while the helicopter was flying to Mymensingh Cantonment from Jessore Cantonment to pick up General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 19th Infantry Division to attend a conference at the Army Headquarters.
Quoting witnesses, UNB Tangail correspondent said the helicopter first crashed into a banyan tree after hitting 230-KV electric grid line and then nosedived into a pond-side adjacent to Rouha Government Primary School "with a big bang." "Hearing the sound, local people rushed in and began rescue work. The rescuers retrieved the bodies of Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam and pilot of the helicopter Lt Col Shahidul Islam," said a spot account of the scene.
Seriously injured in the crash, Major Saif was first taken to Tangail General Hospital and then flown to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka by a helicopter at about 10:30am.
The bodies of the two deceased army officers were also airlifted to Dhaka after inquest.
GOC of Ghatail Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment Major General AKM Mujahiduddin, commander of 98 composite brigade Brigadier General Nasimul Goni, Deputy Commissioner Maksudur Rahman Patwari and Police Super Abdul Mannan visited the spot.
Police Super Abdul Mannan said two inquiry teams -- one from CID and another from Aviation -- reached Tangail to investigate the cause of the accident.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of the two army officers in the fatal mishap a few days after the army lost a number of officers in the carnage in the BDR headquarters.
General Rafiq and pilot of the helicopter Lt Col Shahidul Islam died on the spot while co-pilot Major Saif sustained serious injuries in the fatal mishap, which came as a double shock when the nation still mourns the Peelkhana tragedy in which a number of army officers were slain.
An ISPR press release in Dhaka and local people said the Bell 206 helicopter of Army Aviation crashed after hitting an electric wire at Rouha near Elenga in Kalihati Upazila of the district at about 7:50am.
The accident took place while the helicopter was flying to Mymensingh Cantonment from Jessore Cantonment to pick up General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 19th Infantry Division to attend a conference at the Army Headquarters.
Quoting witnesses, UNB Tangail correspondent said the helicopter first crashed into a banyan tree after hitting 230-KV electric grid line and then nosedived into a pond-side adjacent to Rouha Government Primary School "with a big bang." "Hearing the sound, local people rushed in and began rescue work. The rescuers retrieved the bodies of Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam and pilot of the helicopter Lt Col Shahidul Islam," said a spot account of the scene.
Seriously injured in the crash, Major Saif was first taken to Tangail General Hospital and then flown to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka by a helicopter at about 10:30am.
The bodies of the two deceased army officers were also airlifted to Dhaka after inquest.
GOC of Ghatail Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment Major General AKM Mujahiduddin, commander of 98 composite brigade Brigadier General Nasimul Goni, Deputy Commissioner Maksudur Rahman Patwari and Police Super Abdul Mannan visited the spot.
Police Super Abdul Mannan said two inquiry teams -- one from CID and another from Aviation -- reached Tangail to investigate the cause of the accident.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of the two army officers in the fatal mishap a few days after the army lost a number of officers in the carnage in the BDR headquarters.