Training aircraft crashes on Milestone School campus amid classes; dozens injured

Dhaka, July 21, 2025 – A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F‑7 BGI training jet crashed into a school in Uttara on Monday afternoon. The crash killed one person and left several others injured at Milestone School and College. The crash triggered panic among students and staff, with fire and rescue teams rushing to the scene. The military aircraft went down while classes and examinations were in progress, triggering panic and emergency response.

The jet had taken off at approximately 13:06 local time and went down around 13:30 during what the BAF described as a routine training sortie.. Witnesses reported hearing a loud blast followed by a massive fireball and thick smoke rising into the sky. Eyewitness videos showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the school grounds, as students and faculty fled in panic. Emergency sirens, screams, and cries for help echoed across the area.

Initial reports from fire services and the military confirmed that at least one person died, while several others sustained injuries. In addition, around 13 people—mostly students suffering from burns or smoke inhalation—were admitted to nearby hospitals. While a fire official initially cited only four injuries, hospital staff later reported treating up to 20 patients. Moreover, many of the victims required urgent medical care at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute.

Bangladesh Army and Air Force rescue teams coordinated with Uttara fire units to contain the blaze and evacuate casualties. Bystanders and nearby civilians helped transport the injured using rickshaws and private vehicles, as overwhelmed emergency services worked amid heavy traffic jams caused by the incident.

The Bangladesh Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) office released a brief statement confirming the aircraft’s affiliation and expressing condolences to the families affected. Authorities say the pilot likely did not eject and may have died on impact. However, ISPR did not release the pilot’s identity or condition, pending further verification.

Milestone School and College conducts classes from elementary through grade 12, serving about 2,000 students. Today, many were taking tests, heightening fears as the jet crashed into the building. A 16-year-old student reported watching the chaos unfold, describing the crash as “terrifying.”

Local authorities have cordoned off the campus and launched an investigation into the aircraft’s flight path, maintenance history, and possible pilot error. Officials aim to determine whether the training flight was cleared to operate over a populated area. School operations remain suspended until safety inspections are complete.

BAF spokespersons have assured full cooperation with civil and military investigators. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing, and the injured continue to receive care. Medical teams are evaluating the severity of burns and respiratory issues linked to smoke inhalation.

This tragedy raises urgent questions about air safety protocols and the proximity of military training flights to civilian institutions. It follows a pattern of occasional aircraft accidents in South Asia, sparking debates over stricter airspace regulations near schools and residential areas.

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