Bangladesh mourns 27 dead after Air Force jet crashes into school; investigation ordered as nation reels from devastating tragedy.

In one of the most devastating air disasters in recent memory for Bangladesh, an Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood on Monday afternoon, leaving at least 27 people dead and over 170 injured. The incident has sent shockwaves across the nation and prompted both national and international responses, along with a formal investigation into what went wrong.

The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft took off at approximately 1:06 p.m. local time from the Kurmitola Air Base for a routine training sortie. Moments after take-off, the aircraft reportedly encountered a technical malfunction, which quickly escalated into an uncontrollable situation. Despite the pilot’s reported efforts to steer the aircraft away from populated areas, it ultimately crashed into a two-storey building within the school premises. The jet caught fire upon impact, compounding the scale of the tragedy.

Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury of the Bangladesh military commended the pilot for making a “valiant attempt” to divert the aircraft, noting that the densely populated character of Dhaka’s urban sprawl left limited options. Tragically, the pilot is among those confirmed dead. The high-speed impact into an educational institution, during a time of active attendance, led to a high number of casualties—most of them school children and staff.

The Milestone School and College, where the accident occurred, is one of Dhaka’s leading private educational institutions, with a student population exceeding 2,000. Situated in the northern part of the city, Uttara is a busy metropolitan hub within the capital’s greater urban ecosystem, which is home to over 20 million people. The school, known for its academic excellence and comprehensive extracurricular programs, has now turned into a scene of unspeakable horror.

Emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, were swift to arrive at the crash site, battling flames and assisting with the evacuation of injured students and staff. Health authorities have confirmed that 171 individuals have been injured, many of them critically, raising fears that the death toll could still rise.

In response to the national tragedy, Bangladesh’s interim government has declared a national day of mourning. Flags across the country are being flown at half-mast on Tuesday as a symbol of collective grief. Interim national leader Muhammad Yunus pledged a thorough inquiry, stating that “necessary measures will be taken to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure all kinds of assistance” to victims and their families.

The Bangladesh Air Force has announced the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the technical reasons behind the malfunction. The F-7 BGI aircraft, a modernized version of the Chinese Chengdu J-7, has been part of the Air Force’s training fleet but has faced criticism in the past over safety concerns, particularly regarding its aging technology and complex maintenance requirements.

The tragedy has also drawn international condolences. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), expressing profound sorrow and offering prayers for the families affected. “Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka,” he wrote.

This catastrophe marks not only a painful moment for those who have lost loved ones but also a turning point for Bangladesh’s civil and military aviation policies. As investigations begin, the nation waits—grieving, questioning, and demanding that no such tragedy ever repeat.