A devastating tragedy unfolded in Dhaka on Monday when a Bangladeshi Air Force training fighter jet crashed into a school compound, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens more. The incident, which occurred at Milestone School and College in the capital, is now being described as the deadliest aviation accident in Bangladesh in decades.
The aircraft involved—a Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet—went down shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), just as students were being dismissed from class. According to eyewitness accounts, two fighter jets were flying overhead when one suddenly plummeted into the school’s junior playground, triggering a massive explosion.
“It felt like an earthquake,” said Shafiur Rahman Shafi, an 18-year-old student at the school. “There was a loud boom, followed by fire. We were on the senior playground when it happened, and we all ran in panic.”
The crash site quickly became the focus of rescue efforts, with military personnel and emergency responders working to extract victims and provide first aid. An AFP photographer on the scene captured images of injured students being carried away on stretchers, while soldiers helped clear debris from the playground.
A military statement later confirmed that 19 people, including the jet’s pilot, had died in the crash. An additional 20 individuals were reported to be in critical condition. In total, at least 51 people—most of them students—are currently receiving treatment at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, according to the institute’s director, Mohammad Nasir Uddin.
Scenes at the hospital were harrowing. Grieving families gathered in shock, searching for loved ones. Among them was Tofazzal Hossain, 30, who broke down in tears upon learning that his cousin, a student in eighth grade, had died in the crash. “We frantically searched different hospitals before we found his body,” he said.
In response to the tragedy, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus declared a national day of mourning for Tuesday. Expressing condolences on X (formerly Twitter), Yunus stated, “The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”
The crash stands as the worst aviation accident in Bangladesh since 1984, when a passenger flight from Chattogram to Dhaka went down, claiming all 49 lives on board. Monday’s tragedy not only raises questions about flight safety but also highlights the vulnerability of educational institutions located near military training zones.
Authorities have yet to provide further details about the cause of the crash. An investigation is expected to follow.
As the country mourns, families, students, and the broader public are left grappling with unimaginable loss—a stark reminder of the human cost of aviation accidents and the importance of rigorous oversight in both military and civil air operations.
