In a devastating crash that has left the entire nation in shock, a fighter plane belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a school in Chattogram on Tuesday morning and left at least 38 dead, most of them children and teachers. Dozens have been injured, and rescue work is still in progress with concerns that the death toll might rise.
The crash happened about 11:45 am in Shonar Bangla Model School in the Patharghata locality of Chattogram, a highly populated city with residential and commercial structures. The plane, an F-7 fighter aircraft – a Chinese-made model of the Soviet MiG-21 – was supposedly on a routine training flight when it lost altitude and came crashing down directly into the school building.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror and chaos. “I heard a deafening sound and saw the plane spinning out of control. Within seconds, it crashed into the school and there was a huge explosion,” said local resident Rahman Uddin, who was working at a nearby grocery store. “Children were screaming, people were running everywhere. It was terrifying.”
The pilot attempted to eject during the crash and was recovered alive in critical condition, officials at the Civil Aviation Authority and the Bangladesh Air Force told news agencies. He was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka and remains critical.
Fire fighters and rescue squads arrived a few minutes later to battle the flames and rescue individuals buried under the wreckage. Social media photographs and videos depict ruined classrooms, walls of fire, and crying parents screaming for their missing children.
Chattogram Police Commissioner Abdul Mannan confirmed the death toll at 38 by the evening, although he added the toll is expected to rise with more bodies being found. “Today is a sad day for Chattogram. The victims are predominantly children aged 7 to 14 years and some teachers and school administrators,” he said.
Chattogram hospitals are overflowing with the magnitude of casualties, and authorities have issued emergency calls for blood donations. Some of the children are being treated for traumatic injuries and burns. A psychological counseling center has been set up to help the traumatized survivors and the grieving families, while temporary hospitals have been set up near the site of the incident.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep sadness and shock at the tragedy. In a media statement, she said, “The nation mourns the loss of these young lives. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The government will make all efforts to do the best for them. A detailed investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of this tragic accident.”
The Defence Ministry has set up a special investigation committee, comprising top air force and aviation authorities, to determine the cause of the crash. Initial hypotheses involve mechanical failure or pilot error during the time the plane was on a training mission, but authorities have requested that individuals refrain from spreading unsubstantiated rumors.
This is among the deadliest aviation-linked disasters in recent times in Bangladesh. Although military aircraft accidents have occurred in the past, they have rarely claimed such a high toll of civilian lives.
As rescue operations continued overnight under floodlights and heavy police cordons, outrage and grief spread throughout the community. Residents in most areas wondered why such flights were allowed over residential neighborhoods and called for greater safety precautions and stricter airspace regulations.
The nation has declared a day of mourning for the dead. Flags will be half-mast at government buildings on Wednesday.
With the country in mourning, focus now shifts to recovery, relief to the victim families, and ensuring such a disaster never happens again.
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