A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring several others, many of them critically.
The F-7 BJI trainer aircraft, reportedly on a solo training sortie, crashed into the school building that housed playgroup classes. The crash occurred moments after the classes had ended and students were leaving for their homes.
Among the deceased and injured are school kids, their parents who had come to pick them up, and several teachers.
The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, also died in the crash. Local media reported that the pilot was attempting his first solo mission after completing a dual training session earlier in the day.
Emergency response teams, including the Military Rescue Brigade, fire services, Civil Defence, and police, rushed to the scene, and launched the rescue operation. Disturbing visuals shared on social media showed several injured being pulled from the wreckage site.
The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals, including the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where many of them remain in critical condition.
The Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced that the bodies will be handed over to their families as soon as possible.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation,” he said in a condolence message shared by his office on X.
He directed all the authorities concerned, including hospitals, to address the situation with the utmost priority.
“The government will take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure all forms of assistance,” he added.
Meanwhile, authorities have released the emergency contact numbers to assist the families searching for their missing kids and relatives. The helpline numbers are – Military Rescue Brigade – 01769024202; CMH Burn Unit – 01769016019; CMH Emergency – 01769013311; Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute Hotline – 01949043697; school administration – 01814774132.