Tears and smoke filled the skies of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Tuesday after a military training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara, killing at least 19 people, including children.
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet, belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force, had taken off at exactly 13:06 local time. Barely 30 minutes later, the aircraft dropped from the sky—straight into the heart of a school campus where students were either writing exams or attending regular classes.
“Bangladesh Air Force’s F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed in Uttara. The aircraft took off at 13:06 [07:06 GMT],” said the military’s public relations team.
Eyewitness videos show flames and thick black smoke pouring from the crash site. Screams filled the air as people ran in panic.
It is the worst air disaster in Bangladesh since 1984, when a passenger plane from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board.
A School Day Turned Nightmare
Milestone School and College is a private institution with over 6,000 students enrolled. That day, several classrooms were full when the fighter jet plunged into a section of the building.
Online footage shows a wide hole torn through the building’s side, with broken concrete and twisted metal scattered everywhere.
At least 100 people, mostly students, were rushed to hospitals. Doctors say many of them suffered severe burns.
“A third-grade student was brought in dead,” said Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. “Three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, were admitted.”
Air Force, Army, Police in Emergency Operation
The Bangladesh army, air force, police, and the Border Guard Bangladesh are all involved in search and rescue efforts.
Eight fire service units battled the blaze, while injured victims were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) using helicopters.
The government has opened an emergency hotline for missing children and families of victims.
“We’re taking all necessary measures,” wrote Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, in a post on X.
He promised that families of the victims would receive the bodies of their loved ones after proper identification. DNA testing would be conducted for remains that cannot be identified immediately.
In a second post, he shared emergency contact lines of first responders and rescue departments.
Questions of Safety and Technology
The F-7 BGI is a light multi-role fighter built by China’s Chengdu Corporation. Though lightweight, it is capable of handling air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.
Bangladesh bought 36 upgraded versions in 2022, designed to meet their own air force specifications.
This crash, however, raises tough questions about aircraft safety and the risk posed by military flights near populated zones.
For more data on Bangladesh’s air force and defense spending, visit The World Bank and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
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