Dhaka, July 21, 2025: At least 19 people were killed and over 50 others injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school and college campus in the Uttara area of the capital city on Monday, officials confirmed.
The tragic incident occurred at the Milestone School and College, where the F-7 BGI fighter jet slammed into the campus shortly after takeoff. The aircraft had departed at 13:06 local time, according to a statement issued by the military’s public affairs wing.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror and chaos as the aircraft exploded upon impact, sparking a massive fire. Video footage from the site showed a towering column of smoke rising above the charred wreckage, with onlookers screaming in panic.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze, but visuals from Reuters TV showed the mangled remains of the jet embedded in the building, with twisted iron grills and a gaping hole marking the crash point.
“A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, are being treated,” said Dr. Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. He confirmed that several victims were admitted with severe burns to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery as well.
Masud Tarik, a teacher at the institution, recounted the terrifying moment: “When I was at the gate to pick up my kids, I suddenly heard an explosion. I looked back and saw only fire and smoke.”
Families of students and staff gathered at the site, many in tears as emergency workers tried to manage the scene and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the loss as “irreparable” and vowing a full investigation.
“All necessary measures will be taken to determine the cause of the crash and ensure comprehensive assistance to the victims and their families,” Yunus said in a statement.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another catastrophic air crash in Ahmedabad, India, where an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground — the deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade.
Authorities in Bangladesh have not yet confirmed the cause of the latest crash, and the military has launched an inquiry into the incident.
