At least 18 people, including the pilot, lost their lives after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara district on Monday afternoon. Authorities reported that 164 others suffered varying degrees of injuries in the incident, which marks one of the deadliest air disasters in recent memory for the city.
The F-7 BGI aircraft took off at 1:06p.m. local time before veering off course and smashing into the school compound. The jet reportedly burst into flames upon impact. At the time, hundreds of students were either sitting for exams or attending classes, leading to severe casualties many among the student body.
Eyewitnesses described panic and chaos as emergency responders and bystanders rushed to evacuate victims, resorting to tricycle rickshaws and every available means to transport the wounded to nearby hospitals. Families gathered anxiously at the school, desperately seeking news about their children. A student, Rafiqa Taha, who was not present during the crash, recalled her terror: “I was terrified watching videos on TV. My God! It’s my school.”
Milestone School and College serves around 2,000 students, from elementary to senior secondary levels. The identities of the victims have not yet been released as officials continue rescue and recovery operations. While the cause of the crash has not been disclosed, military authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances behind the disaster.
The tragedy has plunged Dhaka into mourning and renewed concerns about aviation safety and disaster preparedness in the region.