A military jet crashed into a school campus, causing mass casualties. The death toll currently stands at least 19 people, including students, while more than 100 others are injured. The devastating incident in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday.
The aircraft, identified as an F-7 BGI, started blazing after crashing into a classroom of Milestone School and College around 1:06 p.m. The Bangladesh Army’s public relations office identified the as a training aircraft for the Air Force.
The campus houses both elementary and secondary students. At the time of the incident, classes were still in session, according to the school’s representative who spoke to the Times of India.
Reports, citing the spokesperson, say the plane came down near the school gate due to unknown reasons that are currently being investigated. “The plane fell on the gate and crashed nearby. A class was in session where the plane crashed,” the spokesperson said.
According to reports, the aircraft slammed into the front of the school building, striking the section where younger students were. The school offers classes from kindergarten all the way through grade 12. The jet crashed directly into the elementary building, where grades 1-5 and the school’s canteen are found. The crash left children trapped inside as fire and smoke spread rapidly.
Before emergency services arrived, teachers and staff jumped into action, pulling students from the building and trying to control the panic.
First responders, including the fire brigade and military personnel, arrived around 1:22 p.m. and immediately began rescue operations. Eyewitnesses described seeing army personnel carry injured children to safety in their arms, as ambulances were initially scarce.
One student shared that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, had ejected moments before impact, landing away from the blaze. “The pilot ejected from the plane with a parachute and got down while the primary school building caught fire,” student Naimul Hasan Adit told TBS. The fire was finally brought under control by 2:45 p.m.
According to People, the pilot survived and was taken to Combined Military Hospital for treatment. Reports say that 8 people have been hospitalised in critical condition, and multiple are being treated in the burn unit.
Milestone College released a statement, urgently requesting blood donations and directing willing donors to local hospitals. The school also urged the public to avoid crowding the scene to allow rescue teams to continue their work.
