DHAKA, July 22 (Alliance News): At least 27 people, including 25 schoolchildren, were killed when a Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in Dhaka, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in the country in decades, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft, part of a routine training mission, crashed into the Milestone School and College on Monday afternoon just after students had been dismissed from class. The tragic incident also left more than 170 people injured, with 78 currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confirmed the updated death toll. “So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot,” he stated.
The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, reportedly tried to steer the aircraft away from populated areas after experiencing a mechanical failure.
However, despite his efforts, the jet slammed into the two-storey school building, the military said in a statement. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus declared Tuesday a day of national mourning. Expressing his condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter), he called the tragedy “a moment of profound pain for the nation.” He added, “The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College is irreparable.”
Emergency teams, including firefighters and military personnel, rushed to the scene shortly after the crash. Rescue operations continued late into the night as authorities worked to recover bodies and assist the injured.
This incident marks one of the gravest aviation tragedies in Bangladesh’s recent history and has sparked concerns over the safety and maintenance of the military’s aging fleet of fighter jets.
