Deadly Crash: Bangladesh Air Force Jet Slams into Dhaka School, Killing 20 and Injuring Over 100
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
By: News Desk | Updated: 1:05 PM EDT
Tragedy in Dhaka as Military Jet Crashes into School Campus
In a heart-wrenching incident that has shocked the nation, a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood on Monday afternoon, killing at least 20 people — including the pilot — and injuring more than 100 others, most of them schoolchildren.
What Happened?
According to military and fire department officials, the Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet had taken off at 1:06 PM local time. Just moments later, it lost control and plummeted into the school campus, bursting into flames on impact.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene as students screamed and ran for safety, while flames and thick black smoke engulfed parts of the campus. The incident occurred while classes were ongoing, causing chaos and fear among the students and faculty.
Rescue Efforts and Heartbreaking Scenes
Local residents, school staff, and emergency responders rushed to the site for immediate rescue operations. Many used auto-rickshaws, bicycles, and even carried injured students in their arms to nearby hospitals.
A father was seen running frantically with his injured daughter, while another mother wept, clutching one child and searching desperately for her missing elder one.
The Bangladesh Fire Service, police, and Air Force teams were all deployed for emergency rescue and search operations.
Nation in Shock: Government Responds
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed his deep sorrow and called the tragedy an “irreparable loss for the nation.” He has ordered a full-scale investigation into the crash and pledged that the cause of the disaster will be uncovered.
“This is a moment of national mourning,” Yunus said in his official statement. “We share the grief of the students, parents, teachers, and our brave Air Force personnel who lost their lives in this horrifying accident.”
Survivor Reactions
Rafiqa Taha, a 16-year-old student of Milestone School who was not on campus at the time, told reporters:
“I was watching it on the news and couldn’t believe it. That’s my school. My friends were there. I’m still in shock.”
The school reportedly has over 2,000 students, from elementary to grade 12.
Deadliest Crash in Recent Dhaka History
This is the most deadly aircraft crash in Dhaka in recent memory. The last major aviation tragedy involving Bangladesh occurred in 2018, when a US-Bangla Airlines passenger plane crashed in Nepal, killing dozens.
🕊️ Final Thoughts
As families grieve and the nation mourns, all eyes are now on the investigation into what caused the fatal crash. The incident serves as a chilling reminder of the risks tied to urban training flights and the urgent need for improved aviation safety protocols — especially near densely populated areas and schools.