Bangladesh Air Force Training Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School, Killing at Least 20

Dhaka, July 21 – A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school building in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, killing the pilot and at least 19 others, most of them students. Over 170 others were injured, with many suffering burns, according to officials.

The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft took off at 1:06 p.m. and reportedly suffered a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. The pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam, tried to steer the plane away from crowded areas but ended up crashing into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s densely populated Uttara neighborhood.

The two-story school building caught fire, and terrified students said the entire structure shook before a massive explosion rocked the area. The aftermath was chaotic: panicked parents rushed to the scene, and rescuers used helicopters, motorized rickshaws, and their own arms to carry the injured to safety. At least 60 children aged between 12 and 16 were transferred to a special hospital for burn treatment.

Witnesses described heartbreaking scenes. One father, Jewel, said he arrived to find the building in flames and saw the body of a child. Thankfully, his own daughter survived, but many others weren’t as lucky. A mother was seen crying as she found one of her children safe, but was still searching for the other.

The military confirmed the pilot made every effort to avoid a larger tragedy and has pledged a full investigation. It’s the deadliest plane crash in Dhaka in recent memory. A similar F-7 crash in 2008 also killed its pilot.

The government declared Tuesday a national day of mourning, with flags to fly at half-mast. Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, called the incident a “moment of deep national grief,” and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and pledged support.

By Monday evening, rescue efforts were still underway with heavy equipment clearing debris and teams continuing to search for victims. Rafiqa Taha, a 16-year-old student who wasn’t at school during the crash, said, “I was terrified watching the videos on TV. My God, it’s my school.”

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