20 Killed as Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes Into School
Mechanical failure suspected as cause of air force jet crash that struck Dhaka school, killing students and civilians.
- Military jet crashes near school in Dhaka, killing at least 20 people
- Seven children among the dead; over 100 others injured
- Pilot died despite efforts to divert the aircraft from populated areas
A tragic air force training jet crash in Dhaka, Bangladesh, claimed at least 20 lives and injured 104 others on Monday, when a military aircraft went down near Milestone School and College in the city’s Uttara area.
According to the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the victims included at least seven children, one of whom was just five years old. Rescue efforts continued late into the night as authorities worked to identify victims and search the wreckage.
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI jet, used for training by the Bangladesh Air Force, reportedly encountered a mechanical failure shortly after taking off from near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, attempted to steer the aircraft away from the populated area but was unable to avoid disaster. He later succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.
“The crash site is still being combed. We suspect some individuals may still be trapped,” said ISPR director Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury. He confirmed that victims were taken to four separate hospitals and noted that the investigation into the aircraft’s technical history is ongoing.
The crash occurred close to the school’s cafeteria, and while approximately 4,000 students are enrolled at Milestone School and College, around 1,000 were on campus at the time of the crash.
Officials say the incident occurred during a routine training mission, not part of a larger military exercise.
