Shah J. Choudhury
July 21, 2025 : A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a packed school campus in the capital Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 19 people — most of them children — and injuring more than 170 others in one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades.
The accident occurred around 1:06 p.m. when the F‑7 BGI aircraft, on a routine training mission, developed a technical malfunction shortly after take‑off from Kurmitola Air Base and plummeted into Milestone School and College in Uttara, a northern neighborhood of the capital.
Chaos and Devastation
Eyewitnesses described a deafening roar followed by a massive explosion as the jet slammed into the two‑story school building during class hours. Thick black smoke rose over the campus as panicked students, teachers and parents fled.
Firefighters and soldiers pulled bodies and injured survivors from the debris in scenes of chaos and anguish.
“The walls shook, the windows shattered, and children were screaming everywhere,” said one teacher. “We thought it was an earthquake or a bomb.”
Rescuers worked for hours to evacuate students trapped under collapsed classrooms.
Pilot Among the Dead
The Air Force confirmed that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam Sagar, was killed in the crash. Military officials said he appeared to have attempted a last‑minute maneuver to avoid densely populated buildings — a move that likely prevented an even greater catastrophe.
“He tried to save lives at the cost of his own,” said an Air Force spokesman.
Of the 19 confirmed dead, most were students between 10 and 16 years old, along with several staff members. Hospitals reported over 170 injured, dozens of them in critical condition with burns and head injuries.
Government Declares Day of Mourning
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus described the accident as “a heartbreaking tragedy for the nation” and declared Tuesday, July 22, a national day of mourning, with flags to be flown at half‑mast. He also announced that the government would cover medical expenses and provide compensation to victims’ families.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones,” he said in a televised address.
An official investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash. Initial indications point to mechanical failure, but investigators have not ruled out other factors.
One of the Deadliest in Recent Memory
This incident is among the worst air accidents in Bangladesh since the country gained independence, and has raised fresh concerns about the safety and reliability of aging military aircraft still in operation.
By nightfall, grieving parents crowded hospitals and morgues searching for news of their children, as rescue teams continued clearing debris at the crash site under floodlights.
Key Facts:
• Crash time: 1:06 p.m. local time, July 21
• Location: Milestone School and College, Uttara, Dhaka
• Aircraft: Bangladesh Air Force F‑7 BGI fighter trainer
• Fatalities: At least 19 (including pilot)
• Injured: More than 170
• Cause: Suspected mechanical failure (under investigation)
A Nation in Grief
The sight of small school bags and textbooks scattered among the wreckage underscored the enormity of the loss. In a statement, the Education Ministry expressed solidarity with the victims and promised counseling and support for traumatized students.
