Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes Into School, Killing 19, Injuring 164

At least 19 people were killed and 164 others injured when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school and college campus in Dhaka on Monday, following a technical malfunction shortly after take-off, military officials confirmed.

The F-7 BGI aircraft, a Chinese-made fighter jet, had departed from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola at 1:06 p.m. local time as part of a routine training mission. According to military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, the pilot attempted to steer the jet away from densely populated areas after experiencing mechanical failure, but was ultimately unable to avoid disaster.

“The pilot made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College,” said Lt. Col. Chowdhury. The pilot was among those who died in the crash.

Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the accident.

Footage from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke rising above the school grounds, with fire engulfing parts of the building. Emergency crews worked to extinguish the flames and recover the wreckage. The aircraft appeared to have slammed into the side of the school building, leaving behind twisted metal, shattered windows, and a large gaping hole.

“A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, were admitted to the hospital,” said Dr. Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by panic and chaos as parents rushed to locate their children.

“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,” said Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school.

The F-7 BGI, the most advanced version of the Chinese-made Chengdu J-7, is based on the Soviet MiG-21 design. Bangladesh had acquired 16 of the aircraft in a 2011 deal, with deliveries completed by 2013.

Monday’s tragedy marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Bangladesh’s recent history. It comes just weeks after a separate disaster in neighbouring India, where an Air India passenger jet crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.

Authorities are continuing rescue and recovery efforts at the crash site.