Dhaka [Bangladesh], July 21 (ANI): At least nineteen people were killed and more than 100 injured when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday, The Daily Star reported.
The crash occurred when the aircraft, identified as an F-7 BGI training jet, took off at approximately 1:06 pm local time and moments later plummeted into the school premises, bursting into flames. The blaze triggered panic as thick black smoke billowed over the area and students and staff scrambled to safety.
Dr. Abhijit of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery confirmed that another victim succumbed to injuries after being brought in, raising the confirmed death toll to nineteen. Among the dead was a sixth-grade student brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Prof. Bidhan Sarker, head of Burn and Plastic Surgery at DMC.
“After providing primary treatment, around 60 injured were referred to the burn institute, while 25 with minor injuries are receiving treatment here,” said Dr. Bazlur from Uttara Adhunik Hospital. Md. Nasiruddin, director of the burn institute, said all emergency beds quickly filled up and some patients were shifted to other departments to accommodate the surge.
The crash site, near the school’s main gate, was described as chaotic, with students attending class at the time. A school spokesperson told BDnews24: “The plane fell on the gate and crashed nearby. A class was in session where the plane crashed. The injured are being taken out one by one.”
Rescue visuals from the scene showed fire service personnel and Air Force teams rushing in to evacuate victims amid thick smoke and flames. The rescue operation was ongoing as of late afternoon.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus expressed “deep grief and sorrow” over the tragedy, calling it a moment of “profound pain for the nation.” In a statement posted on X, Yunus said: “The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable.”
He assured full government support, ordered hospitals to prioritise the injured, and pledged a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. “I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and direct all concerned authorities, including hospitals, to address the situation with the utmost priority,” Yunus said.
Fire service officer Lima Khanam had earlier confirmed one fatality soon after the crash, saying: “The training aircraft crashed at the Milestone School and College in Diabari. Our team has recovered one body. The Air Force has rescued four people with injuries and taken them away.”
The F-7 BGI, a Chinese-built supersonic jet, is a staple in the Bangladesh Air Force’s training fleet. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
(ANI)
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