A devastating tragedy struck the heart of Bangladesh’s capital on Monday morning when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area. The incident, which occurred as students were taking tests and attending classes, has left at least 16 people dead and dozens more injured, many with severe burns.
According to statements from the country’s Inter Services Public Relations Directorate and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the Chinese-made F-7 aircraft plunged from the sky shortly before midday. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as fire and thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage near the school’s main gate and canteen roof. Local TV footage showed frantic rescue efforts, with emergency workers, teachers, and bystanders using whatever transport was available—including tri-cycle rickshaws—to rush victims to medical facilities.
Chaos Amidst Classes
Milestone School and College serves around 2,000 students across all grades. On Monday, it was business as usual—until disaster struck. Jamuna TV reported that at least 13 people were initially confirmed injured, though later numbers soared. Prothom Alo cited that more than 50 people were hospitalized with burns; at least 20 were taken for emergency care immediately after the crash.
Dr. Bidhan Sarker from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital told local media that a third-grade student was brought in dead and three others—aged 12, 14, and 40—were admitted with serious injuries. The true scope of the casualties only became clear as the hours wore on: some reports placed the death toll at 16 with dozens more hurt. Rescue operations saw children being pulled out from beneath debris one by one as desperate parents gathered outside.
Shockwaves Across Bangladesh
The loss has sent shockwaves through families, school staff, and the wider community. “The loss suffered by the Air Force…students, parents, teachers and staff…is irreparable,” said a statement from government officials. For many in Dhaka, images of burning wreckage and crying relatives are an all-too-painful reminder of aviation risks—coming just weeks after a deadly plane crash in neighboring India.
As authorities begin their investigation into what caused the jet to go down in such a densely populated area, questions are being raised about flight paths over schools—and how future tragedies can be prevented. For now, Milestone School is left to mourn its losses while the country grapples with another aviation disaster.
