At least 25 people, including schoolchildren and a military pilot, have been confirmed dead after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school building in the capital on Monday afternoon. More than 170 others were injured, many critically, making it the country’s deadliest aviation accident in over four decades.
The aircraft, an F-7 BGI fighter trainer, took off from the Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at 1:06pm for a scheduled training sortie. Within minutes, it experienced a mechanical failure and crashed into the Milestone School & College campus in the Uttara area of Dhaka at approximately 1:14pm. The jet struck a two-storey school building while classes were in session.
Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, the pilot of the jet, was killed in the crash. According to the military’s media wing, he made an effort to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas but was unable to regain control before impact.
Rescue operations began immediately, involving the fire service, military units, Rapid Action Battalion, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh. Witnesses described scenes of panic as students and teachers fled the burning building. Several victims were evacuated using improvised transport, including rickshaws and vans, as emergency vehicles struggled to access the site due to congestion.
Doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Combined Military Hospital, and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery confirmed receiving large numbers of casualties, including students with severe burn injuries. Hospital sources said at least two dozen people remain in critical condition.
The government declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. The national flag was flown at half-mast at all government offices and diplomatic missions abroad. An investigation has been ordered by the Bangladesh Air Force to determine the exact cause of the crash. Initial assessments suggest a critical mechanical fault, though full findings are pending.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and offered assistance, saying India stood in solidarity with Bangladesh. Messages of support have also been issued by several regional leaders and international organisations.
This incident is the worst aviation disaster in Bangladesh since the 1984 crash of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines Fokker F-27, which killed 49 people.
Officials said further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and rescue efforts continue.
