What We Know So Far About the Deadly Fighter Jet Crash Into a School in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Share this article:
A tragic military jet crash in the Bangladeshi capital has claimed at least 27 lives, most of them schoolchildren, prompting a national day of mourning. The crash occurred when an F-7 aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon.
The aircraft had reportedly encountered a mechanical malfunction shortly after departing from a Bangladesh Air Force base. Despite efforts by the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, to redirect the jet to a less densely populated zone, it crashed into the school building, killing him along with students and civilians on the ground. The military has confirmed that a formal investigation into the incident has begun.
Image Source: Getty Image
The F-7 fighter jet took off around 1:00 pm local time (07:00 GMT) from a base in Dhaka. It was part of a routine training mission but encountered a critical fault mid-flight, the air force said in a statement. Witnesses reported seeing the jet hurtling toward the ground before it struck the school building directly.
Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the institution, told BBC Bangla he saw the aircraft strike the building with full force. Another teacher, Masud Tarik, described hearing a loud explosion and turning to see smoke and flames engulfing the area. He added, “There were many guardians and kids here.”
Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene and began sifting through debris and rubble in the hope of locating survivors. Photographs from the site show charred remnants of the school, with rescue teams working tirelessly amid chaos.
Image Source: Getty Image
The Milestone School and College, which caters to around 2,000 students from pre-primary to senior secondary levels, bore the brunt of the impact. According to the Ministry of Health, at least 17 of the deceased were children.
One student, Farhan Hasan, recounted to BBC Bangla how he had just exited the building after an exam when the crash happened. "My best friend, who was sitting next to me in the exam hall, died in front of my eyes," he said.
Parents who had gathered to pick up their children were also caught in the blast. One grieving man shared that his eight-year-old nephew had died in the crash, while the child’s father could be heard repeatedly asking, "Where is my son?"
A teacher revealed that classes for grades five through seven had just ended, but many students had stayed back for coaching sessions, which is why the building was still crowded.
Reports say more than 170 individuals were injured in the incident, many between the ages of 10 and 15. Doctors at the Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital said most had sustained burns from jet fuel. Over 50 patients were admitted with severe injuries, many of them in critical condition.
Image Source: Getty Image
While aviation accidents are uncommon in Bangladesh, the country has witnessed a few deadly ones over the decades. The most catastrophic incident prior to this occurred in 1984, when a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight crashed near Dhaka, killing all 49 people on board.
In 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines plane went down while landing in Kathmandu, Nepal, resulting in 51 deaths. The country also saw a similar F-7 training jet crash in 2008 outside Dhaka, which claimed the pilot's life.
What Comes Next
The aftermath of the disaster has plunged the city into mourning. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injured children, while family members desperately search for missing loved ones. At the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, crowds of concerned relatives and volunteers lined up to donate blood.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced that an emergency hotline had been set up to assist families. Bodies that are identified will be returned to relatives, while DNA testing will be used for those not yet identified.
Yunus also called on citizens to avoid crowding hospitals so that emergency services can function without obstruction. He stated that “necessary measures” would be taken to investigate the cause of the crash and to provide support to the affected families.
Condolences have poured in from regional leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed deep sorrow over the loss of young lives.
An official inquiry committee has been formed to investigate every aspect of the incident, the armed forces confirmed.
The aircraft had reportedly encountered a mechanical malfunction shortly after departing from a Bangladesh Air Force base. Despite efforts by the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, to redirect the jet to a less densely populated zone, it crashed into the school building, killing him along with students and civilians on the ground. The military has confirmed that a formal investigation into the incident has begun.
How the Crash Unfolded
The F-7 fighter jet took off around 1:00 pm local time (07:00 GMT) from a base in Dhaka. It was part of a routine training mission but encountered a critical fault mid-flight, the air force said in a statement. Witnesses reported seeing the jet hurtling toward the ground before it struck the school building directly.
Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the institution, told BBC Bangla he saw the aircraft strike the building with full force. Another teacher, Masud Tarik, described hearing a loud explosion and turning to see smoke and flames engulfing the area. He added, “There were many guardians and kids here.”
Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene and began sifting through debris and rubble in the hope of locating survivors. Photographs from the site show charred remnants of the school, with rescue teams working tirelessly amid chaos.
The Victims: Mostly Children
The Milestone School and College, which caters to around 2,000 students from pre-primary to senior secondary levels, bore the brunt of the impact. According to the Ministry of Health, at least 17 of the deceased were children.
One student, Farhan Hasan, recounted to BBC Bangla how he had just exited the building after an exam when the crash happened. "My best friend, who was sitting next to me in the exam hall, died in front of my eyes," he said.
Parents who had gathered to pick up their children were also caught in the blast. One grieving man shared that his eight-year-old nephew had died in the crash, while the child’s father could be heard repeatedly asking, "Where is my son?"
You may also like
- Japan political crisis: Report claims PM Shigeru Ishiba to resign after election debacle; approval rating falls below 23%
- Elon Musk Announces Big Tesla Update For India, Nationwide Pre-Orders Now Begin
- Bengaluru street vendors seek GST relaxation after receiving notices for UPI transactions crossing 40 lakh turnover
- Bengaluru Weather Forecast: Heavy Rain To Lash City This Week; IMD Issues Yellow Alert
- Trump accuses Obama of 'treason' amid new claims by Tulsi Gabbard
A teacher revealed that classes for grades five through seven had just ended, but many students had stayed back for coaching sessions, which is why the building was still crowded.
Reports say more than 170 individuals were injured in the incident, many between the ages of 10 and 15. Doctors at the Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital said most had sustained burns from jet fuel. Over 50 patients were admitted with severe injuries, many of them in critical condition.
Bangladesh's History of Air Disasters
While aviation accidents are uncommon in Bangladesh, the country has witnessed a few deadly ones over the decades. The most catastrophic incident prior to this occurred in 1984, when a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight crashed near Dhaka, killing all 49 people on board.
In 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines plane went down while landing in Kathmandu, Nepal, resulting in 51 deaths. The country also saw a similar F-7 training jet crash in 2008 outside Dhaka, which claimed the pilot's life.
What Comes Next
The aftermath of the disaster has plunged the city into mourning. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injured children, while family members desperately search for missing loved ones. At the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, crowds of concerned relatives and volunteers lined up to donate blood.Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced that an emergency hotline had been set up to assist families. Bodies that are identified will be returned to relatives, while DNA testing will be used for those not yet identified.
Yunus also called on citizens to avoid crowding hospitals so that emergency services can function without obstruction. He stated that “necessary measures” would be taken to investigate the cause of the crash and to provide support to the affected families.
Condolences have poured in from regional leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed deep sorrow over the loss of young lives.
An official inquiry committee has been formed to investigate every aspect of the incident, the armed forces confirmed.
More from our partners
Loving Newspoint? Download the app now
