On July 21, 2025, tragedy struck the Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed directly into the school campus. The aircraft had taken off at 1:06 PM and went down minutes later, hitting the building while classes were in full swing. This catastrophic crash resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people and injuries to over 100 others, many of them children.
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The scene was horrifying. Footage shared online showed thick smoke rising from the school building as firefighters, rescue teams, and local residents rushed to help. The explosion caused a massive hole in the school wall and widespread panic among students and parents.
Among the victims was a third-grade student who was declared dead on arrival at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Several others, including children aged 12 and 14, were admitted with serious burn injuries. Over 50 people were taken to hospitals with critical wounds, with some transferred via air force helicopters to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for urgent care.
Doctors at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery reported a large number of patients with life-threatening injuries. The school, which hosts over 6,000 students, was full at the time of the crash, amplifying the scale of the disaster.
Rescue Efforts Underway
The response was immediate and coordinated. Eight fire service units worked to control the fire, while the army, air force, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conducted search and rescue operations. Emergency hotlines were activated to help families locate missing students.
Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus assured the nation that the government was doing everything possible. He stated that bodies would be handed over to families swiftly, and DNA testing would be used to identify victims when necessary.
The Aircraft Involved
The jet involved was an F-7 BGI, a Chinese-made, multi-role fighter acquired by Bangladesh in 2022. It was part of an upgraded fleet designed for both training and combat missions. Despite being one of the most advanced jets in the air force, its crash in a densely populated area has raised serious concerns about operational safety.
Nation in Shock
This is the deadliest aviation incident in Bangladesh since the 1984 Chattogram-Dhaka flight crash. The incident has sparked concerns over the safety of military flight paths over populated areas.
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