A Bangladesh Air Force Chengdu F‑7 BGI training jet (tail number 701) crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Diabari, Uttara, northern Dhaka. The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff at around 1:06 p.m. BST, triggering a massive fire and widespread devastation.
Authorities confirmed a toll of 20 fatalities in total, including the pilot and 19 individuals on the ground, most of them young students. Over 170 people sustained injuries—many critically—especially from severe burns.
The Milestone School and College Diabari campus serves approximately 2,000 students, from nursery to grade XII, and was in session when the jet struck grinding chaos and panic among teachers and pupils alike.
Initial military statements point to a suspected technical malfunction soon after takeoff that disabled the aircraft. The pilot reportedly attempted evasive manoeuvres to avoid dense buildings, but due to low altitude could not eject in time.
Upon impact, the jet tore through the perimeter and a seven‑storey junior block (Block 7), setting classrooms ablaze. Rescue crews from the Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defence, Border Guard Bangladesh, and the military were dispatched within minutes to secure the site and transport the wounded to nearby hospitals including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
In response, the government declared a national day of mourning on July 22, lowering flags to half‑mast and offering state‑level support to victims’ families. Prime Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed “deep sorrow” and pledged a “full investigation” into the cause of the disaster.
A high‑level inquiry committee has already been established by the Bangladesh Air Force to examine flight records, aircraft maintenance logs, and eyewitness accounts. Officials promise transparency and timely updates as the investigation unfolds.
This devastating event ranks as one of Dhaka’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades, surpassed only by the 1984 Fokker F27 crash, which killed 49 in poor weather. It also follows another recent BAF training jet incident in Chattogram in May 2024, though without ground casualties.
