Tragedy in Dhaka: Air Force Jet Crashes into School, Killing 19
A tragic incident unfolded in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday, July 21, 2025, when a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7BGI training aircraft crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College in the Uttara neighborhood. The devastating crash resulted in a significant loss of life, with 19 people confirmed dead, including the pilot and numerous students, and over 100 individuals injured.
Detailed Account of the Event:
The Incident:
Aircraft Type: The crashed jet was a Chinese-made F-7BGI, an advanced variant of the Chengdu J-7 fighter, which itself is an upgraded derivative of the Soviet-era MiG-21. The "BGI" designation indicates it was specifically developed for Bangladesh, featuring advanced avionics like a "Glass cockpit, Improved" with a fully digital cockpit and enhanced radar. The Bangladesh Air Force operates 16 of these aircraft, delivered between 2011 and 2013, utilizing them for air defense, multirole operations, and pilot training.
Takeoff and Crash: The training aircraft departed from BAF Base Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker in Dhaka's Kurmitola neighborhood at approximately 1:06 PM local time. Shortly after takeoff, between 1:18 PM and 1:30 PM, the jet reportedly experienced a technical malfunction.
Pilot's Efforts: The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, is reported to have made heroic efforts to steer the distressed aircraft away from densely populated areas towards a more sparsely inhabited location. However, due to the extremely low altitude, he was unable to eject.
Impact Site: The jet ultimately crashed with force into the main gate and the front section of a three-story building within the Milestone School and College campus. The impact directly hit junior sections where nursery to Class III students are taught. Classes were actively in session at the time, and many students were reportedly preparing for a school break.
Immediate Aftermath: The impact caused a significant explosion, leading to a large fire and severe structural damage to the school building, leaving a gaping hole. Thick black smoke billowed from the damaged structure, and panicked students were swiftly evacuated. Initial reports indicated numerous students were trapped inside.
Casualties and Response:
Fatalities: The confirmed death toll stands at 19, which tragically includes the pilot and at least one third-grade student. Local media widely indicates that many of the ground fatalities were indeed students.
Injuries: Over 100 people sustained injuries, with a significant number suffering severe burns. Hospitals, particularly the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, were rapidly overwhelmed with burn victims, necessitating the transfer of many to other medical departments due to a lack of available beds.
Extensive Rescue Operations: Emergency services, including the Fire Service and Civil Defense, military personnel from the Bangladesh Army and Air Force, and two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), immediately rushed to the scene. Rescue operations continued for hours, with responders carrying injured students and others to hospitals using any available means, including tricycle rickshaws, as ambulances struggled to reach the site.
Government and International Response: Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, expressed profound sorrow over the "irreparable" loss and pledged that all necessary measures would be taken to investigate the cause of the accident and provide maximum assistance to the victims and their families. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences and expressed solidarity with Bangladesh. In a gesture of national mourning, a day of mourning has been declared for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, with flags across the country to fly at half-staff.
Investigation:
The precise cause of the crash is currently under active investigation. The military's public relations department confirmed that the aircraft "experienced a technical malfunction," and a high-level committee within the Air Force has been promptly formed to determine the exact circumstances leading to the tragedy.
This incident marks the deadliest airplane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory, leaving a nation in shock and grief.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
