Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School, 20 Dead and Over 170 Injured
At least 20 people, including children, were killed and 171 others injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday, triggering a large-scale emergency response.
The China-made F-7 BGI aircraft reportedly took off at 1:06 pm local time before losing control and crashing into the school building while classes were underway. Fire and smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency personnel evacuated students and staff.
The Bangladesh military confirmed the aircraft was on a training mission when it went down. A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Taukir Islam, tried to divert the aircraft away from a densely populated area but failed. The pilot’s condition was not immediately known.
More than 30 victims were admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, with 48 people in critical condition. Others were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College and the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Visuals showed injured students being carried in rickshaws and vans due to a lack of immediate ambulance access.
Teachers and staff were among the first to initiate rescue efforts, later joined by the army and fire service. The impact created a gaping hole in the three-storey school structure, with parts of the aircraft embedded in the building.
Authorities have launched a high-level Air Force inquiry into the crash.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus described the incident as a “national tragedy” and announced a day of mourning. Flags will be flown at half-mast, and the government has pledged full support for the injured, including flying in doctors from abroad if necessary.
Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also expressed condolences and urged Awami League members and residents to assist in rescue and relief efforts. She called for urgent blood donations and medical assistance for those injured.
This crash comes weeks after a similar Chinese-made F-7 jet operated by the Myanmar Air Force went down, raising renewed concerns about the reliability of such aircraft.
An emergency helpline (01949043697) has been activated for families seeking information about the victims.
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