Key Points:
✔ 19 dead, 70+ injured after a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 jet crashed into a Dhaka school.
✔ Pilot attempted to divert the aircraft from a densely populated zone before impact.
✔ National day of mourning declared as investigators probe the cause of the crash.
Dhaka School Tragedy: 19 Dead as Military Jet Crashes During Classes
A devastating aviation disaster struck Dhaka on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet plummeted into a school, killing at least 19 people—including students—and injuring over 70 others. The China-built F-7 fighter aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara during school hours, sending terrified children and staff fleeing amid flames and thick black smoke.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as firefighters, military personnel, and locals rushed to pull survivors from the wreckage. With ambulances overwhelmed, some victims were carried to hospitals in rickshaws and private vehicles. At least 48 patients remain in critical condition, with burn specialists scrambling to treat severe injuries.
Pilot’s Desperate Maneuver Fails to Avert Disaster
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Taukir Islam, attempted to steer the malfunctioning jet away from densely populated neighborhoods before it slammed into the school. Despite his efforts, the aircraft tore through the building’s facade, leaving a gaping hole and trapping multiple students inside.
“This is an irreparable loss for the nation,” said Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, who declared Tuesday a day of state mourning. Flags will fly at half-mast as the country grieves the victims, including young students and school staff.
Investigation Launched Amid Rising Questions
A high-level Air Force committee has been formed to determine the cause of the crash—the second involving a Chinese-made F-7 jet this year. In March, a Myanmar Air Force F-7 crashed in Sagaing, killing its pilot and reigniting concerns over the aircraft’s safety record.
Meanwhile, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for unity, urging citizens to support rescue efforts and donate blood for the injured. Emergency hotlines have been activated, and officials say foreign medical teams may be flown in if needed.
As Dhaka reels from one of its worst peacetime aviation disasters, the focus now shifts to accountability—and ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
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