A Bangladeshi Air Force fighter jet crashed into a school building in Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 170 in what officials are calling the worst aviation disaster in the country in decades. The crash occurred at Milestone School and College, a private institution in the capital city, as students were exiting class.
The aircraft, identified as a Chinese-made F-7 BJI, was part of a routine training exercise when it reportedly suffered a mechanical failure. Witnesses said two jets were flying overhead before one lost control and slammed into the schoolyard, triggering a massive explosion.
“It felt like an earthquake,” said Shafiur Rahman Shafi, an 18-year-old student who witnessed the crash. “The jet caught fire immediately, and chaos broke out.”
Fire and rescue teams rushed to the scene, evacuating the injured—many of whom were between eight and 14 years old—to hospitals. The pilot of the jet was also among the dead. Dhaka’s National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute confirmed treating the majority of the wounded.
Among the casualties was an eighth-grade student whose body was identified by his cousin, Tofazzal Hossain. “We searched everywhere. Finally, we found him,” said Hossain, who wept as he recalled the frantic search.
The military said the pilot attempted to steer the malfunctioning aircraft away from the densely populated neighborhood but was unsuccessful. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the failure.
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus declared a day of national mourning, stating, “The loss suffered by the Air Force and the families affected by this tragedy is irreparable.”
This incident marks Bangladesh’s deadliest aviation accident since a 1984 crash that killed 49 people. The tragedy comes amid heightened tensions in South Asia, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing condolences and offering support.
