A routine training mission turned into a national tragedy on Monday afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood.
The jet, which took off at 1:06 PM local time, went down around 1:30 PM, killing 27 people—25 of whom were schoolchildren—according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Authorities confirmed that most of the deceased were children under the age of 12. The other two victims were the aircraft’s pilot and a female schoolteacher.
According to Dr Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief advisor at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, at least 78 people are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals, with five reported in critical condition.
Rahman added that officials have handed over 20 bodies to families, while six remain unidentified. Authorities have collected DNA samples to assist in identifying them.
“We are doing everything we can to treat the injured,” he said. “But the condition of some remains extremely grave.”
Massive Rescue and Medical Response
Following the crash, the Bangladesh Army and eight units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence quickly reached the scene and launched a large-scale rescue operation.
Brigadier General Mohammad Zahed Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the jet had slammed into the two-storey school building, where classes were in session for second to fifth graders.
“There was also a meeting underway in the principal’s office, and a coaching class was being held nearby,” he explained.
The ISPR stated that a total of 171 people sustained injuries in the incident. Most of them are schoolchildren who suffered burns and trauma.
Bangladesh Medical University has prepared its ICU to accommodate the influx of critical patients.
Officials said volunteers and medical personnel are on high alert to manage the situation, especially as the injured require specialised paediatric care.
The incident has triggered widespread grief across Bangladesh, with leaders, parents, and communities mourning the loss of young lives.
Calls for an immediate and thorough investigation have grown, particularly concerning the safety of military flight routes over densely populated urban areas.
As families begin to bury their loved ones, the nation awaits answers about how such a devastating crash occurred in the heart of its capital.
Also Read: Iran, E3 Agree To Resume Nuclear Talks Amid Tensions Over Sanctions Mechanism
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
