Dhaka, Bangladesh: At least 27 people, most of them children, were killed and more than 170 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon, according to official sources.
The F-7 fighter jet, operated by the Bangladesh Air Force, was on a routine training flight when it suffered a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff from a military base in the capital. The aircraft lost control and crashed into Milestone School and College at approximately 13:06 local time (07:06 GMT).
In a statement issued by the armed forces, authorities confirmed that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, was among the dead. He reportedly attempted to steer the aircraft away from a densely populated zone but was unable to avoid impact.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health said 25 of the 27 confirmed fatalities were schoolchildren. Many of the injured are being treated for severe burn injuries at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and six other hospitals across Dhaka. At least 88 people remain hospitalized, while others were treated and discharged.
The school, which caters to students aged four to eighteen, was reportedly just letting out classes for the day when the crash occurred. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as flames engulfed part of the building and black smoke filled the air.
“I saw the plane coming down, and then a huge explosion,” said Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the school. “It hit the building directly. There were children everywhere.”
Another teacher, Masud Tarik, told local media that he initially mistook the sound for thunder. “When I looked back, I saw only fire and smoke. Parents and children were screaming.”
One student recounted that he had just finished an exam and stepped outside when the jet struck. “My best friend was standing right next to me. He didn’t make it.”
Officials said a joint investigation committee has been formed to determine the cause of the crash. The inquiry will examine mechanical failure, maintenance history, flight data, and standard operating procedures.
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus offered condolences and pledged full government support to victims’ families. “This is a moment of deep national grief,” he wrote in a statement. “All affected families will receive the necessary medical, financial, and psychological assistance.”
The government has declared Tuesday, July 22, a national day of mourning. Flags are being flown at half-mast across the country.
Outside Dhaka’s major hospitals, distraught families continued to gather, searching for loved ones and donating blood. A man mourning his eight-year-old nephew told reporters, “He was just leaving school. Now he’s gone.”
This incident is one of the deadliest peacetime aviation accidents involving the Bangladesh military in recent history. Additional updates are expected following the formal investigation.
