At Least 19 Dead And Over 160 Injured After Military Jet Crashes Into Bangladesh School

A Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into a college and school campus in Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring 164 others, authorities confirmed. The devastating crash occurred shortly after the F-7 BGI training jet took off from the Kurmitola Air Force base, when it reportedly experienced a critical technical malfunction.

Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, a military spokesperson, said the pilot attempted to steer the jet away from densely populated areas but was unable to avoid impact. “The pilot … made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft … crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College,” Chowdhury stated. The pilot was among those killed.

Key details of the tragedy include:

• The F-7 BGI, a Chinese-built variant of the MiG-21, was delivered to Bangladesh between 2011 and 2013 as part of a 16-jet order.

• Video from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as firefighters battled the blaze.

• A third-grade student died at the hospital, while several children and adults suffered severe burns and injuries.

• Witnesses described scenes of panic as explosions followed the crash, with teachers and students running for their lives.

“I was picking up my kids when I heard a loud explosion,” recalled Masud Tarik, a teacher at Milestone School. “When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke.”

Images and video from the site captured the mangled remains of the aircraft embedded into the side of the school building. Emergency teams worked quickly to rescue survivors and extinguish the flames, while distraught parents and teachers were seen crying and comforting one another amid the chaos.

The tragedy comes just weeks after a catastrophic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, which claimed 260 lives marking the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.

A military committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the Dhaka crash. Early indications point to mechanical failure, but officials say a detailed inquiry will determine the exact sequence of events.

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