Dhaka, July 21 (V7N) — A Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 150 others, according to confirmed reports from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) and the Fire Service as of 7:45 PM local time.

Many of the injured, suffering from severe burns, have been admitted to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Authorities have activated an emergency hotline at the institute for families and concerned individuals: 01949043690.

The aircraft, an FT-7BGI fighter jet, took off at 1:06 PM from the AK Khandakar Air Base in Kurmitola as part of a routine training operation. Soon after takeoff, the jet reportedly developed a technical malfunction. According to the ISPR, Flight Lieutenant Tawkir Islam made a desperate attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his efforts, the jet ultimately crashed into a building inside the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of Uttara.

The building affected included a classroom adjacent to the school canteen. According to the school's public relations officer, Shah Bulbul, security forces immediately cordoned off the area, and even school authorities were not permitted access to the crash site during the early hours of the emergency response.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene. Akbar Hossain, a school security guard who was only 50 yards from the crash site, said the accident occurred just as classes for grades 5 through 8 had ended. Students were exiting the building when the jet struck a coconut tree before crashing into the school and erupting in flames. He noted that the aircraft appeared to lodge into the ground-floor level, which lies partially below ground and is usually not used for classes.

A 12th-grade student recounted hearing a loud explosion from inside a classroom. “There was sudden panic everywhere. Our teacher came running in and told us the building was on fire. Then we saw the fire service arrive,” the student said.

As of late afternoon, more than 70 burn victims had been admitted to the burn institute, with doctors reporting that many of them suffered burns on over 50% of their bodies. Among the injured are both students and teachers.

Personnel from the Army, Air Force, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and fire service have been actively engaged in rescue and recovery operations at the crash site. A high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Bangladesh Air Force to determine the cause of the accident.

In honor of the deceased, the government has declared a one-day national day of mourning to be observed on Tuesday. All government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, and educational establishments will fly the national flag at half-mast. Bangladeshi missions abroad have also been instructed to observe the mourning period by flying the national flag at half-staff.

This tragedy marks one of the deadliest peacetime aviation-related disasters in recent memory in Bangladesh and has reignited debate over the risks of conducting military flight training near urban civilian infrastructure. An official investigation is ongoing.

End/MRB/SMA/