In a devastating accident that shook the capital city of Dhaka, a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed onto the rooftop of the canteen building of Milestone School and College in Uttara’s Diabari area on Monday (July 21), leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 150 injured—many of whom are schoolchildren.

The tragedy occurred around 1:06 PM when an F-7BGI training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force took off and, within minutes, lost control and slammed into the educational institution’s building. Brigadier General Muhammad Zahid Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, confirmed the rising death toll while speaking to reporters at the crash site. Earlier, Dr. Sayedur Rahman, special health adviser to the Prime Minister and chief consultant of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, had reported 16 fatalities.

The crash site immediately turned into a scene of horror, as thick smoke, fire, and debris engulfed the area, creating panic among students and faculty. Fire Service official Lima Khanum confirmed that the aircraft appeared to have crashed directly onto the canteen roof, which was packed with students at the time of impact. At least three fire service units rushed to the scene within minutes to control the fire and assist in rescue operations. The situation prompted the deployment of two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and additional police personnel for crowd control, security, and support in the rescue efforts, alongside members of the army and the Air Force.

Emergency response teams scrambled to save as many lives as possible, with four critically injured victims airlifted by military helicopter to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Dozens of students, many with severe burns and trauma injuries, were rushed to various hospitals including the National Burn Institute, Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Uttara Modern Hospital, and CMH. Residential surgeon Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman at the National Burn Institute stated that over 50 patients are being treated for burn injuries and the condition of most victims is critical.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft was on a routine training flight before it met with the fatal accident. Investigations into the cause of the crash are already underway, and Air Force officials are expected to issue a preliminary report soon. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion and then seeing a fireball as the jet plummeted into the building. Panic spread quickly throughout the neighborhood, with residents and local volunteers helping in the initial rescue efforts before official units arrived.

The nation is in mourning following the tragic incident, which has raised serious concerns about the safety of flight paths over densely populated and educational areas. Grief-stricken parents gathered in large numbers outside the hospitals and the school premises, desperately searching for their children and seeking updates on their conditions.

As emergency services continue rescue and recovery operations, authorities have cordoned off the area and initiated structural assessments of the school building. The government is expected to announce compensation and medical assistance for the victims and their families, while the Bangladesh Air Force and civil aviation authorities work together to determine the root cause of the crash and to prevent future tragedies of this nature.

This heartbreaking event marks one of the deadliest aviation-related disasters involving civilians in recent Bangladeshi history and has sent shockwaves across the country.