At least 19 people were killed and over a hundred injured on Monday after a Bangladesh Air Force, in Dhaka, training jet crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, one of the largest educational institutions in the capital. The crash, which occurred during school hours, is being described as one of the deadliest in Dhaka’s recent history.
The incident took place shortly after 1:06 p.m. local time, when a Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft plunged into the Uttara neighborhood in northern Dhaka during a routine training flight. According to the military, the jet struck a two-story building on campus while numerous students were attending class.
The impact was immediate and catastrophic. The aircraft burst into flames, sending a thick plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen from several kilometers away. Firefighters, civil defense teams, and army personnel rushed to the scene to begin rescue operations. Many of the injured were students who had been inside classrooms at the time of the crash.
The tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the country. Authorities declared a national day of mourning, and the interim government mobilized emergency resources to deal with the crisis. “The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as all others affected, is irreparable,” said interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus in a statement shared on social media and reported by AFP.
More than 100 people were injured, and at least 83 were hospitalized, according to official sources. The local newspaper Prothom Alo reported that 28 patients were admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, most with severe burn injuries. The rapid spread of fire after the impact complicated rescue efforts and worsened the severity of injuries. Fire crews managed to extinguish the flames after several minutes of intense effort, while hospitals prepared to receive dozens of critically wounded patients.
Eyewitness accounts revealed the emotional toll of the disaster. “I was terrified watching the videos on TV. Oh my God, it’s my school,” said 16-year-old Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not on campus at the time of the crash, in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Milestone School and College enrolls around 2,000 students, from primary grades to 12th grade. The plane struck the entrance of one of its main buildings at a time when many children and teenagers were in class.
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined. Authorities have launched a full investigation to identify what led to the fatal accident.
In a message posted on Facebook, the prime minister reiterated his sorrow and extended condolences to the victims’ families. “I wish a speedy recovery to the injured and have instructed all authorities, including hospitals, to treat the situation with the urgency it demands,” Yunus stated, as reported by Europa Press.
