Tragedy struck Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara, killing at least 19 people, including the pilot, and injuring more than 100—many of them students.
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft took off from the A.K. Khandaker Air Base and crashed shortly after due to a suspected technical malfunction, igniting a massive fire ball.
Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam was reported to have attempted steering the aircraft away from densely populated areas but was unable to avoid impact with a two-story school building.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defense, 19 people were confirmed dead (it is not known how many of them are students), with 116 others injured — many suffering from severe burns. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals using tricycle rickshaws and available vehicles as scenes of panic and despair unfolded. Students recounted feeling the ground shake before a deafening explosion tore through the building.
Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital said over 60 students between ages 12 and 16 were transferred to burn units. In response to the catastrophe, the Bangladeshi government has declared a national day of mourning for Tuesday, with flags to be flown at half-staff.
Rescue operations continued into the evening, with soldiers using megaphones to manage the chaotic scene in the crowded neighborhood, near a metro station and busy commercial area.
Relatives of students searched frantically for loved ones, with emotional scenes playing out in hospitals and around the crash site.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus offered condolences, calling it a “heartbreaking accident” and pledging a full investigation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed sorrow over the tragedy, offering his condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Bangladesh.
The incident is the deadliest air crash in Dhaka in recent memory and has raised serious questions about aircraft safety and urban flight operations in densely populated zones.
