A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood on Monday, July 21, killing at least 19 people, including students and the pilot.
The aircraft, which took off at 1:06 p.m. from Kurmitola Air Force Base, suffered a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff, according to Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, a military spokesperson.
The pilot attempted to steer the jet away from densely populated areas but crashed into a two-story building on the campus, causing extensive damage.
Firefighters worked to extinguish a massive fire that erupted, leaving a thick plume of smoke visible across the area.
Over 50 individuals, including children and adults, were hospitalized with severe burns, as reported by a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
The crash site revealed a grim scene, with the plane’s wreckage embedded in the building, damaging iron grills and creating a gaping hole.
Images captured crowds watching in shock as emergency responders battled the blaze.
The tragedy struck during regular school hours, with students either taking tests or attending classes, amplifying the devastation felt by families and the community.
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, expressed deep sorrow, calling the loss “irreparable” for the air force, students, and families.
A committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the crash, and an emergency hotline was activated at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery to assist victims.
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society issued a call for donations to support the injured.
This incident follows a similar tragedy in India’s Ahmedabad city last month, where an Air India plane crash killed 260 people, marking a somber period for aviation safety in the region.