Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes into Dhaka School, Killing at Least 19

Published : 19:55, 21 July 2025
A tragic accident unfolded in Dhaka on July 21, 2025, when a Bangladesh Air Force F‑7 BGI training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in the Uttara neighborhood shortly after takeoff. The jet had departed from Kurmitola Air Base at around 1:06 p.m. local time and is believed to have experienced a mechanical failure. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam Sagar, attempted to steer the aircraft away from populated areas but was unable to avoid impact. The jet struck the school’s gate and a nearby building, erupting into flames on impact. The pilot was rescued with a pulse and taken to the Combined Military Hospital, where he later died around 4:20 p.m. The crash claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals, including 16 students, two teachers, and the pilot himself. One third-grade student died after being brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Approximately 164 others, mostly students, were injured—many suffering from severe burns—with around 50 requiring hospitalizations. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as fire engulfed parts of the school and local residents rushed to rescue victims, using rickshaws and private vehicles to transport the injured. Survivors recounted hearing a loud explosion and seeing thick black smoke as the aircraft hit the ground. In the aftermath, Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, ordered a full investigation into the cause of the crash and promised government support for the victims' families. The government declared July 22 a National Day of Mourning. A high-level inquiry committee has been formed to determine the sequence of failures that led to the crash, and emergency hotlines have been established to assist affected families. The incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory for Bangladesh and has left the nation in mourning.