Death toll rises to 27 in Bangladesh air force jet crash into Dhaka school

A Bangladesh Air Force F‑7 BGI training jet crashed into the Milestone School & College campus in Uttara, Dhaka, on July 21 at approximately 1:06 pm, killing at least 27 people—including the pilot—and injuring over 170, many of them children.

The jet, part of a routine training sortie from Kurmitola Air Base, reportedly experienced a mechanical malfunction. According to military spokesperson Lt Col Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, the pilot made a desperate attempt to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas before impact.

Emergency responders described scenes of chaos and horror. “People were screaming, running,” eyewitnesses recalled as flaming debris engulfed classrooms and the school canteen. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by early afternoon.

The toll includes children and at least one teacher, who tragically succumbed to severe burns after rescuing more than 20 students.

Approximately 78 injured were hospitalized with many in critical condition, while authorities set up a blood donation drive to help the injured.

A national day of mourning has been declared and flags have been lowered to half-mast.

Eyewitnesses said the plane burst into flames as it slammed into classrooms where regular sessions were underway. Rescue efforts continued for hours as military and fire service personnel pulled victims from the rubble.

Several students sustained severe burns and are in critical condition. The death toll is expected to rise as some remain unaccounted for and many injured are undergoing intensive care.

Authorities confirmed that the Chinese-made fighter jet developed a technical fault shortly after takeoff. A military inquiry has been ordered to investigate the crash.

The air force stated that the pilot tried to steer the plane away from a densely populated area, possibly avoiding even greater casualties.

The F-7 series jets used by Bangladesh are aging models, originally derived from the Soviet MiG-21, and have been involved in previous incidents. This is one of the deadliest air crashes in the country in recent years.

The government has declared a national day of mourning, but no formal statement has yet been issued by current national leadership regarding accountability.