A peaceful lunch break for third- and fourth-grade students at Milestone School and College in Dhaka turned into a nightmare when a fighter jet crashed into their building. According to eyewitness Abu Sayed Mohammad Waliullah, a teacher who was nearby, the jet flipped midair before slamming into the two-story school structure.
The impact was followed by a massive explosion and a secondary blast caused by ignited jet fuel. Students were flung by the force of the blast, and chaos erupted as smoke and fire engulfed the building.
Deadly Jet Crash Sparks National Mourning And Safety Concerns Across Densely Populated Dhaka
The crash resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people, including many schoolchildren and the pilot. Another 165 people were injured, with 78 of them critically wounded and receiving treatment across hospitals in Dhaka. The military has confirmed these numbers and handed over 20 victims’ bodies to their families.
The Bangladeshi government declared a National Day of Mourning in response to the immense tragedy, which has drawn sympathy and grief from across the country.
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Chinese-built F-7 BGI fighter jet that had taken off just 12 minutes before from a nearby military base. Preliminary statements from officials suggest that a mechanical failure caused the crash, though a detailed investigation is still underway. The proximity of the school to both the military base and the international airport has raised concerns about safety and flight protocols in such densely populated areas.
Heroes Emerge As Dhaka School Community Grieves Searches And Struggles After Tragedy
Among the most moving stories of the incident is that of Mahathir Mohammed Abid, a 12th-grade student who suffered burns while trying to rescue others. Despite the danger, he entered the burning building to pull out younger students.
He recounted recovering the charred body of a child, an experience so traumatic that he vomited from the shock. Other students gathered at the school the following day, many crying and convinced that more victims remained unaccounted for.
Families of missing children roamed the devastated school grounds, searching for any sign of their loved ones. One man, Sagor Hossain, came looking for his 8-year-old niece, Raisa Moni, only to find her scorched school bag and books.
Her name was visible on a soaked notebook, but there was no word on her condition. Her parents, exhausted and sick from searching all night, were left in anguish. The crash has deeply scarred the community, which is now struggling to come to terms with the scale of the loss.
