The Bangladesh Armed Forces confirmed that a technical failure caused the devastating crash of an Air Force F‑7 BGI fighter plane into Milestone School and College in the Uttara sector of Dhaka on Monday, killing a minimum of 27 people, including schoolchildren, teachers, and the pilot.
In a formal release provided by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the public affairs department of the military reported that the plane was on a standard training flight when it developed a crucial mechanical issue shortly after takeoff from Kurmitola Air Base around 1:06 p.m. local time.
Initial reports suggest the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction in mid-air. Despite the emergency, the pilot did all he could to navigate the aircraft away from populated areas,” the statement read.
Amongst the victims was the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar. He attempted to maneuver the aircraft away from residential areas, ISPR reported, but could not take control of it, and it crashed into the school compound during class hours. The blast and the building’s collapse killed dozens of students and teachers or left them critically injured.
Witnesses described seeing the plane fly unevenly into the air before crashing into the school building, then an explosion, and massive clouds of black smoke. Rescue units, utilizing the army, fire department, and surrounding community, mobilized onto the scene to remove bodies and look for survivors.
Hospitals in Dhaka received over 160 people, most of whom have critical burns, fractures, and shock. Some of them are said to be in a critical condition. The authorities called for urgent blood donations and counseling for the affected families struck by the tragedy.
After the incident, Bangladesh Air Force formed a high-level committee to determine the exact cause of the failure. Members from the defense and aviation circles have also been summoned to evaluate the condition of the F‑7 BGI fleet, which is a model of Chinese-built aircraft serving in Bangladesh since the early 2000s.
We are committed to finding out the truth and taking someone to task,” Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan said. “Our main focus now is the inquiry, dealing with the victims, and ensuring something like this never happens again.”.
This deadly accident has reopened public discussion regarding the safety of military flight activities over cities. The Air Force, professionals, and civil society individuals are calling for a transformation of flying zones for training, practices for maintaining flight standards, and deployment of newer and better technology for the Air Force.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared a day of mourning at the national level, and flags at all government offices will be flown half-mast on Wednesday. She expressed her most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and assured the fullest cooperation of the government during the investigation and relief work.
This is a dark day for Bangladesh. Losing young lives in such a manner is more than tragic,” she said in an emotional television address. She Wanna King.
The disaster is one of the deadliest peacetime air crashes with a military aircraft in Bangladeshi history, and while the nation learns to cope with the catastrophe, there are already questions being raised as to whether the tragedy might have been prevented. The findings of the military investigation, expected within weeks, will likely have far-reaching implications for national defense policy and aviation regulations.
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