On Monday, July 21, 2025, a tragic and devastating accident occurred in Dhaka, Bangladesh, when a Bangladeshi Air Force fighter jet crashed into a school campus, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 individuals, including 25 children, and injuring more than 160 others. This heartbreaking incident has sent shockwaves throughout Bangladesh and the international community, triggering nationwide mourning, public outrage, and demands for accountability and better safety protocols.
The Incident: What Happened?
The aircraft involved was an F-7 BGI fighter jet, one of the most advanced in Bangladesh’s air force fleet, procured under an agreement completed by 2013. On the day of the accident, the jet had taken off from the Kurmitola Air Force Base around 1:00 pm local time for a routine training exercise.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced a mechanical malfunction or technical fault, which severely compromised the aircraft’s control. Displaying extraordinary presence of mind and courage, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, attempted to divert the stricken aircraft away from densely populated areas in an effort to minimize civilian casualties and property damage. However, these efforts, though heroic, were tragically unsuccessful.
Minutes after the malfunction, the fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College, a two-story building located in the Diabari locality of Dhaka, approximately 10 kilometers from the airbase. The collision caused immediate and widespread devastation—almost instantly producing an intense fire fueled by the jet’s aviation fuel and wreckage embedded deep into the school structure.
Casualties and Damage
The tragic crash killed at least 27 individuals, of whom 25 were children ranging widely in age from 4 to 18 years old, as the school houses students from preschool to high school. Also among the deceased were one teacher and the pilot himself.
More than 160 other individuals sustained injuries, many of them serious burns. Hospitals, including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Dhaka Medical College Hospital, received overwhelming numbers of injured young students with severe burn wounds. At least 78 victims remained hospitalized days after the crash, with dozens fighting for their lives in critical condition.
Images and footage from the scene showed the wreckage embedded in the side of the school building with a large breach where the crash occurred, alongside scorched debris and plumes of thick black smoke visible for miles.
Eyewitness Accounts and Immediate Aftermath
Teachers, students, and parents described momentous shock and terror. Eyewitnesses recall hearing a loud explosion followed swiftly by another blast as the jet fuel ignited. Children and staff scrambled to evacuate while firefighters and emergency responders rushed to the scene. Several students vividly recalled seeing the jet crash mere moments before their eyes.
The site saw frantic rescue efforts, with emergency crews and bystanders combing through the wreckage for survivors and victims. Ambulances ferried the injured to hospitals while anxious families gathered near medical facilities pleading for news.
Protest and Public Response
The incident prompted a powerful response from students and the broader community, including protests demanding justice, transparency, and improvements in air force safety. Hundreds of students rallied, chanting slogans calling for answers and the resignation of officials deemed responsible. There was particular anger over the continued operation of older fighter aircraft and perceived lapses in maintenance and air safety protocols.
The protests escalated, leading to confrontations with police, who used baton charges to disperse crowds in some instances. The students’ core demands included the release of the deceased and injured’s identities, adequate compensation for victims’ families, retirement of outdated aircraft models, and stricter aviation safety reforms in military training regimens.
Government and Bangladesh Air Force’s Response
The Bangladesh government expressed sorrow and has declared a national day of mourning, lowering flags to half-mast across the country. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus committed to rigorous investigation and pledged all necessary support to victims’ families and the wounded.
The Bangladesh Air Force promptly set up a high-level committee to probe the accident, aiming to assess the technical causes behind the aircraft malfunction and ensure accountability. The military highlighted the pilot’s brave attempt to minimize civilian casualties despite the catastrophic failure.
Authorities are cooperating with schools, hospitals, and affected families to compile detailed victim lists and arrange aid. In a statement, the Air Force assured the public that it would review flight safety procedures thoroughly and reconsider flight authorization over populated areas.
Broader Implications: Aviation Safety and Student Welfare
This accident raises urgent questions about aviation safety standards, especially concerning military aircraft operating within or near densely inhabited urban zones. While training exercises are critical to armed forces readiness, risk mitigation must be paramount when flying over civilian populations.
Bangladesh, home to a large, young population, values its educational infrastructure, which makes the tragedy especially painful. For many families, sending children to school embodies hope and progress — now marred by brutal loss.
Furthermore, the disaster shines a light on emergency preparedness and medical infrastructure. Rapid treatment of burns and trauma victims is challenging even in developed settings, underscoring the need for continued investment in burn trauma centers and trauma care capabilities.
International Solidarity and Mourning
The tragic crash has resonated globally. Reverberations of sympathy and solidarity have come from world leaders, organizations, and the Indian government acknowledging the pain of losing so many innocent children. Even Pope Leo publicly prayed for the victims, highlighting the universal grief.
Conclusion: A Nation’s Grief and Path Forward
The Bangladesh jet crash into Milestone School and College marks one of the deadliest air disasters in recent years for the country. With the loss of innocent young lives and the pain etched into families’ hearts, it is a somber moment for national reflection.
Moving forward, there is a pressing need for comprehensive investigation, swift justice, enhanced aviation safety measures, and compassionate support to the survivors and bereaved.
The lessons from this tragedy must galvanize Bangladesh and the international community toward stronger safety cultures within military and civil aviation and nurture environments where children can learn and grow without fear.