Dhaka: A tragic incident unfolded in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school building, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 100 others. The victims include several children and the pilot of the aircraft, reported the Indian awaaz.
The ill-fated aircraft took off at 1:06 PM and crashed just 12 minutes later into the Milestone School and College campus located in the Diabari area. The crash caused a massive fire, triggering chaos and panic in the neighborhood. Thick plumes of black smoke engulfed the area, as seen in several viral videos on social media.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Tawqir Islam Sagor, attempted to eject using a parachute but succumbed to his injuries at a military hospital at 3:45 PM.
At the time of the incident, the school was in the midst of its closing hours. Parents had gathered to pick up their children, resulting in a higher casualty count. The building’s wing where the aircraft hit caught fire immediately.
Medical sources at Dhaka Medical College Hospital confirmed that a third-grade student was brought in dead. Three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, were hospitalized. More than 60 people with varying degrees of burns are being treated at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, many of them in critical condition.
Among the deceased is the daughter of renowned journalist Leon Mir. A firefighter mentioned that one of the bodies was burned beyond recognition.
Eyewitnesses shared horrifying accounts. Masood Tariq, a teacher at the school, said, “I was at the gate when I heard a loud explosion. Turning back, I saw only fire and smoke.” Another teacher, Nooruzzaman Muridha, said, “We rushed injured students in rickshaws and vans to hospitals. Their clothes were torn, and many had severe burns.”
Student eyewitness Neemul Hasan Adit recalled, “The aircraft first hit building number 7 and then crashed into the primary school about 100-150 meters away.”
Rescue operations began swiftly. Fire trucks reached the spot by 1:22 PM, and nine fire units from across Dhaka worked to control the blaze, which was brought under control by 2:45 PM. Personnel from the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, and fire services assisted in rescue efforts. The injured were transported to multiple hospitals including Lubana General Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
In response to the tragedy, the Bangladesh government has declared Tuesday (July 22) as a national day of mourning. National flags will be flown at half-mast in all public and private institutions, embassies, and schools, with special prayers held across the country.
Acting Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus termed the incident as an “irreparable loss.” In a social media post, he said, “This is a moment of profound sorrow for the nation. The loss suffered by the Air Force, students, parents, teachers, and civilians is unimaginable.” He has ordered a thorough investigation and immediate relief for all victims.
This crash comes just a month after a devastating air accident in Ahmedabad, India, where an Air India flight crashed into a medical college hostel, killing 241 people – the worst air disaster in the last decade.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the Dhaka crash.
