A devastating tragedy struck the Bangladeshi capital on Monday afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s densely populated Uttara neighborhood. The crash resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, including the pilot and several students, and injured over 170 more, many of whom were children attending classes or exams at the time.
The aircraft involved in the incident was a Chinese-made F-7 BGI training fighter jet, which reportedly experienced a sudden technical malfunction shortly after taking off from the nearby A.K. Khandaker Air Force Base at approximately 1:06 p.m. local time. In a statement, military officials confirmed that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, made a valiant attempt to steer the aircraft away from heavily populated areas before the plane ultimately crashed onto the school grounds and erupted into flames.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror and confusion as a loud explosion rocked the area, followed by thick smoke and chaos. Students and teachers fled the building in panic as debris rained down and classrooms caught fire. Several local residents also rushed to the site in an attempt to assist in rescue efforts before emergency services arrived.
Emergency responders—including firefighters, military personnel, and civilians—quickly mobilized to rescue trapped students and staff. More than 171 injured individuals, mostly aged between 12 and 16, were pulled from the burning two-storey school building. Many of the injured suffered from severe burns and trauma, with dozens transferred to Dhaka’s dedicated burn and plastic surgery hospital for emergency care. Rescue teams used everything from helicopters to motor rickshaws to transport the injured, while others were carried out in the arms of first responders and frantic parents.
Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital described treating overwhelmed numbers of burn victims and stated that many patients had life-threatening injuries. Rescuers continued to sift through the wreckage well into the evening, with cranes deployed to remove collapsed portions of the school structure in the search for more survivors or victims.
The crash marks the deadliest aviation disaster in Dhaka in recent memory. Bangladesh has experienced isolated incidents involving military aircraft before—including a similar F-7 crash in 2008—but none have resulted in such high civilian casualties.
Bangladesh’s interim President Muhammad Yunus declared Tuesday a national day of mourning, with all flags to be flown at half-mast across government buildings. He expressed heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and assured the public that a full investigation into the cause of the crash was already underway. “This is a heartbreaking moment of national sorrow,” Yunus said in a televised statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered condolences and pledged support. “Our hearts go out to the bereaved families,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.”
Milestone School and College, located just 11 kilometers from the air force base, serves around 2,000 students from primary through to senior grades. The crash has left the school community and the nation in deep shock. Rafiqa Taha, a 16-year-old student who was absent at the time of the incident, said over the phone, “I was terrified watching the videos on TV. My God—it’s my school.”
Residents of Uttara and surrounding districts have also raised concerns about the location of military flight paths near schools and residential areas. Questions are being asked about safety protocols and whether more stringent measures should be introduced to prevent such incidents in the future.
As night fell over Dhaka, the grief remained palpable. Parents gathered outside hospitals and morgues, many in tears, waiting for news of their children. The full extent of the tragedy is still unfolding, and the entire country mourns alongside them.
