DHAKA (Kashmir English): At least 27 people, most of them children, lost their lives after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into a school building in Dhaka. The tragic incident occurred on Monday afternoon when the F-7 BGI training aircraft suffered a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff.
According to initial reports, the pilot attempted to avoid densely populated areas but was unable to prevent the crash. The jet slammed into the Milestone School and College during school hours, setting the building on fire and causing widespread panic.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. Hundreds were injured, with over 170 people—mostly students and school staff—being taken to nearby hospitals. Many are in critical condition with severe burns and injuries.
“So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot,” Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said.
“Seventy-eight people are being treated in different hospitals,” Rahman added.
The Bangladesh military on Monday had said the pilot, flight lieutenant Towkir Islam, was on a routine training mission when the jet “reportedly encountered a mechanical failure”.
“The exact cause remains under investigation,” it said in a statement.
The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, “despite his best efforts”, crashed into the two-storey school building, the military added.
The interim government of Muhammad Yunus declared that Tuesday would be a day of national mourning.
Yunus expressed “deep grief and sorrow” over the incident in a post on X.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” he said.
“This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”
Authorities in Bangladesh have declared July 22 a national day of mourning. Flags are being flown at half-mast across the country, and special prayers are being held in memory of the victims. The government has promised a full investigation into the crash.
This tragic event has left the entire Bangladesh nation in shock and mourning, as the country deals with one of its deadliest air disasters in recent memory.
