A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring multiple students as fire and smoke engulfed the campus where children were attending classes.
The Chinese-made fighter trainer crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College in the capital’s Uttara area at approximately 1:06pm local time, minutes after takeoff during what military officials described as a routine training flight. Television footage showed flames and black smoke billowing from the crash site as emergency crews rushed to evacuate casualties.
Fire official Lima Khan confirmed by telephone that at least one person had died and four others were injured, though she did not provide further details about the victims’ identities. Local media reports suggested the casualty toll could be higher, with Jamuna TV reporting at least 13 people injured, including students.
“Initial reports suggest that the aircraft crashed down onto the roof of the canteen of Milestone College,” Khan told Prothom Alo newspaper, adding that three fire service units were working at the scene alongside military rescue teams.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate identified the pilot as Flight Lieutenant Taukir Islam Sagar, though his condition has not been officially disclosed. The military confirmed in a brief statement that the downed Aircraft was an F-7 BGI belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force.
Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the school, told the BBC that young children attended lessons in the building affected by the jet crash. Video footage shared on social media showed army personnel carrying injured students away from the burning wreckage.
A firefighter involved in the rescue operations told The Business Standard that at least six to seven students sustained burn injuries after the aircraft crashed and sparked the blaze. The source spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief media.
The crash site, identified as Haider Hall within the Milestone College campus, was quickly cordoned off by security forces. Two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to assist rescue operations and maintain order at the scene.
Deputy Commissioner Mohidul Islam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Uttara Division confirmed he was heading to the crash site immediately after receiving news of the incident. “A fighter jet has crashed into a building of Milestone College at Diabari area,” he told The Business Standard.
Eight fire engines from the Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene, supported by Bangladesh Army personnel who helped evacuate casualties and secure the area. Rescue teams worked to douse the flames that erupted following the crash’s impact.
The F-7 BGI is a twin-seat fighter trainer aircraft of Chinese origin, used by the Bangladesh Air Force for advanced pilot training. The aircraft type has been in service with the air force for several years as part of its training fleet.
A senior official at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport confirmed the crash but said there were no immediate details on what caused the aircraft to go down so soon after takeoff. The proximity of the crash site to densely populated areas raised concerns about additional casualties.
Tarikul Islam, public relations officer of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, confirmed the incident but said a full investigation would be needed to determine the cause. Military investigators are expected to examine the wreckage once rescue operations conclude.
The Uttara area where the crash occurred is a densely populated northern suburb of Dhaka, home to numerous educational institutions and residential complexes. Milestone School and College operates multiple campuses in the area, with the Diabari campus housing both primary and secondary level students.
Parents rushed to the school after news of the crash spread through social media and local news channels. Authorities worked to reunite injured students with their families whilst maintaining crowd control around the crash site.
This marks the latest in a series of military aviation incidents in Bangladesh. The air force has faced challenges maintaining its ageing fleet whilst training new pilots to operate more modern aircraft acquired in recent years.
Emergency services continued rescue and recovery operations into Monday evening as investigators prepared to examine what caused the training aircraft to crash so close to takeoff. The military has not yet announced whether it will ground other F-7 BGI aircraft pending the investigation’s outcome.
For the families of those killed and injured, and for the school community traumatised by the aircraft crashing into their campus, the focus remained on caring for casualties and understanding how such a tragedy could occur in the heart of the capital’s educational district.
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