Photo by Courtney Sargent
A tragic accident unfolded in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, on Monday when a Bangladeshi Air Force training jet crashed into a school campus, killing at least 19 people and injuring 164 others. The crash occurred at Milestone School and College in the Uttara suburb, igniting a massive fire and sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky, as captured in harrowing footage from the scene.
According to a statement posted on Facebook by the Bangladeshi armed forces, the F-7 jet suffered a mechanical failure shortly after taking off for a routine training exercise at around 13:00 local time (07:06 GMT). The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, was among those killed in the crash. The air force added that he had attempted to steer the aircraft away from populated areas after detecting the fault.
More than 50 of the injured, including children and adults, were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where doctors confirmed many were suffering from serious burns. Milestone School and College caters to students between the ages of four and 18.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation. Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the school, told BBC Bangla he saw the plane hit the building directly. Another teacher, Masud Tarik, speaking to Reuters, recalled hearing a loud explosion. “When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke,” he said. “There were many guardians and kids here.”
A student recounted the horror of seeing the aircraft crash into the building “right in front of my eyes,” underscoring the traumatic experience for many of the young witnesses.
Emergency services rushed to the site to begin rescue operations and transfer the injured to nearby hospitals. Rescue teams were seen working tirelessly through the charred debris, while large crowds gathered nearby, with some climbing rooftops to observe the unfolding tragedy.
The military confirmed that a formal investigation committee has been established to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), he said the government would ensure all necessary steps were taken to investigate the cause and provide aid to those affected. “This is a moment of deep sorrow for the nation,” Yunus stated. “I wish the injured a speedy recovery and instruct all authorities, including the hospitals concerned, to deal with the situation with utmost importance.”
In response to the disaster, Bangladesh has declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. The government announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast across the country to honor the victims of the crash.
