A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people, including 16 students, injuring over 100. The jet reportedly crashed into the school’s primary section while classes were underway.

Jet Took Off at 1:06pm, Crashed Minutes Later

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft had taken off at 1:06pm for a routine training mission and crashed within minutes into the Diabari campus of the school, setting off a large fire that consumed parts of the one-storey building.

More than 100 people were reportedly injured, many of them students with severe burn injuries. Victims were rushed to multiple hospitals, including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Officials at NIBPS confirmed at least 48 admissions, with eight in critical condition.

Pilot Survived the Crash, Ejected Before Impact

The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, managed to eject before the crash and is currently being treated at CMH. Eyewitnesses reported seeing him descend by parachute as the plane plunged into the campus.

Nine firefighting units from across Dhaka responded swiftly, containing the blaze by around 2:45pm. Personnel from the Bangladesh Army, Fire Service, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts and crowd control.

Lima Khanam, duty officer at the Fire Service central control room, said, “The rescue mission is still on and we can’t comment about the casualties until that ends. There will be an on-spot official briefing at the time.”A director of the college, requesting anonymity, told TBS, “The plane all of a sudden crashed into some coconut trees and other greenery in our Diabari campus. Fire engulfed the plane and students frantically rushed to the scene.”

Devastation at the Crash Site

Witnesses described scenes of horror as students with burn injuries were seen fleeing the flames. One teacher recounted helping injured students onto rickshaws and vans to reach nearby hospitals. Videos circulating online show plumes of smoke, a destroyed canteen roof, and charred debris from the aircraft.

While Fire Service officials confirmed 19 fatalities from the crash site, including at least two teachers, the toll could rise as rescue operations continue. Authorities say an official briefing will be held once the operation concludes.

“We transported some of the injured with burns onto rickshaws and vans. Their clothes were ripped apart, torn, and some even were walking towards rescue vehicles with burn injuries on their bodies,” said Nuruzzaman Mridha, a teacher of the institute.

Nation in Shock

Rafiqa Taha, a 16-year-old student who was not on campus at the time, told the Associated Press, “I was terrified watching videos on TV. My God! It’s my school.” The school reportedly has around 2,000 students enrolled.

This tragic incident marks one of the deadliest peacetime accidents involving the Bangladesh military and has left the nation in mourning. An investigation is expected to follow to determine the cause of the crash.

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