At least 16 people, most of them students, have been confirmed dead after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka on Monday, marking the nation’s worst aviation tragedy in decades.
The fatal crash occurred shortly after the Chinese-made F-7 BJI fighter jet took off at 1:06 p.m. local time. Eyewitnesses described the deafening explosion and the subsequent chaos as the aircraft slammed into the junior section of the school’s playground, bursting into flames upon impact.
An AFP journalist on the scene reported that fire and rescue officials were seen carrying wounded children on stretchers while military personnel began clearing debris. Over 100 individuals sustained injuries, with at least 83 currently receiving treatment across various hospitals, according to a statement from interim leader Muhammad Yunus.
One student, Shafiur Rahman Shafi, 18, recounted the horrifying moment:
“We were on the senior playground when suddenly, one of the two fighter planes spiraled down and crashed into the junior section. It felt like an earthquake. Then came the fire and smoke.”
In response to the tragedy, the Bangladesh government has declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. The National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka has been overwhelmed with grieving families, many struggling to identify their children’s remains through uniforms and school bags.
In a public address posted on X (formerly Twitter), Interim President Muhammad Yunus expressed heartfelt condolences, describing the event as a national catastrophe.
“The loss to the Air Force, to the students, parents, teachers, and the nation at large is immeasurable. This is a moment of profound pain for Bangladesh.”
The crash is the deadliest the country has seen since 1984, when a domestic flight from Chattogram to Dhaka claimed 49 lives. It also comes on the heels of a regional aviation disaster in neighbouring India, where over 260 people perished last month in a commercial plane crash.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and the cause of the malfunction is yet to be determined. The military has assured the public of a thorough inquiry into the tragedy.
As Bangladesh begins its day of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast and memorial services are expected to hold nationwide in remembrance of the young lives lost.
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