Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes into Dhaka School, Killing 19

A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school campus in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring over 160 others, many of them students. The tragedy unfolded at Milestone School and College, where classes were in session when the aircraft slammed into the building.

The F-7 BGI fighter jet, a Chinese-made aircraft used for pilot training, took off from a nearby base at 1:06 PM local time and crashed roughly 25 minutes later, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR). The jet burst into flames upon impact, engulfing parts of the campus in thick smoke and fire.

Among the deceased were Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the pilot, two schoolteachers, and 16 students, some as young as eight. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and horror as teachers and staff rushed to rescue trapped students before emergency services arrived. “The jet crashed right in front of my eyes – just 10 feet ahead of me,” said Fahim Hossain, an eleventh-grade student at the school

Rescue operations were launched immediately, with the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard, and fire services deployed to the site. Victims were rushed to multiple hospitals across Dhaka, including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Combined Military Hospital (CMH). An emergency hotline was activated to assist families seeking information.

Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed “profound grief” and declared a one-day state mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across all institutions. Special prayers were held nationwide in memory of the victims.

The ISPR confirmed that an inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the crash. The F-7 BGI, based on the Soviet-era MiG-21, is considered outdated by global standards but remains in service due to its cost-effectiveness and suitability for training missions.

This incident has sparked renewed debate over urban flight paths and safety protocols, especially in densely populated areas in Bangladesh. As Bangladesh mourns, questions loom over the future of its Air Force training infrastructure and the safety and precautions.