At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and more than 160 injured following a tragic military jet crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara, a northern suburb of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka.
The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time on Monday when an F-7 fighter jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a two-storey school building, igniting a massive fire and widespread panic.
The aircraft, which was on a routine training mission, experienced mechanical failure shortly after takeoff from an air force base in the capital. The air force later confirmed that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, was among those who lost their lives in the crash.
According to official reports, the pilot had attempted to steer the malfunctioning jet toward a less populated area in a bid to minimize casualties.
The impact of the crash and the subsequent fire left 164 individuals injured, with over 50—including both children and adults—suffering from severe burns.
They were rushed to nearby medical facilities, including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, for emergency treatment.
The school, which caters to students aged between four and 18, was in session when the crash occurred. Eyewitnesses, including teachers and students, described scenes of chaos and horror as the plane hit the building.
One teacher, Rezaul Islam, reported seeing the jet strike directly, while another, Masud Tarik, recalled a loud explosion followed by a wall of fire and smoke engulfing the premises.
Emergency response teams arrived swiftly at the scene and have since been conducting search and rescue operations amid the charred debris. Images from the site show firefighters and medical personnel working amid thick smoke as concerned citizens, including parents and residents, gathered around the campus.
In the wake of the disaster, the Bangladeshi government has set up an investigation committee to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, promising full support and a thorough probe into the incident.
“This is a time of deep national grief,” Yunus said in a statement, urging authorities and hospitals to provide the highest level of care to the injured. He also announced that Tuesday would be observed as a national day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast across the country.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the nation, prompting renewed discussions on flight safety protocols and the risks of conducting military exercises near civilian areas.
