Military Jet Crashes into Dhaka School Grounds, Leaving 19 Dead

A tragic crash involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals after the aircraft struck a school compound in Dhaka on Monday, according to emergency response officials.

More than 50 others, both adults and minors, sustained burn injuries and were rushed to hospitals for treatment, a medical professional from a specialized burns center reported.

The collision took place at Milestone School and College, situated in the Uttara district of the capital city, as confirmed by local authorities.

The aircraft involved was an F-7 BGI training jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force. It had taken off at 1:06 p.m. local time (0706 GMT) before the crash occurred, according to a statement from the military’s communications office.

Footage captured shortly after the crash showed flames erupting near a grassy area, with thick black smoke rising into the air while bystanders stood at a distance in shock.

Fire personnel were seen dousing the aircraft debris with water. The jet appeared to have slammed into part of a building, smashing through metal barriers and leaving a large breach in the structure.

“A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital,”
— Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital

Additional visuals captured scenes of people weeping and comforting one another amid the chaos.

“When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind…I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke,”
— Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school

In an official statement, the country’s caretaker leader, Muhammad Yunus, vowed a thorough probe to determine what led to the crash, promising full support to those affected.

“The loss suffered by the Air Force…students, parents, teachers and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable,”
— Muhammad Yunus.

This devastating event follows just weeks after a deadly crash in India, where an Air India aircraft collided with a college dormitory, causing over 260 deaths and marking one of the deadliest air disasters in recent history.