Posted on July 21, 2025
A routine training mission turned into a national nightmare this afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force F‑7 BGI fighter‐trainer aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara, northern Dhaka. The aircraft, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar in his first solo sortie, took off at 1:06 pm BST from Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker Air Base. Just minutes later, the jet dove out of control and slammed into the school’s junior wing at around 1:18 pm, igniting a massive blaze that engulfed nearby buildings.
Spread of Tragedy
Flames erupted instantly, and thick black smoke billowed above the campus, creating a harrowing scene captured in eyewitness videos. Teachers, parents, and bystanders quickly formed a chain to pull out students, even filling rickshaws to rush victims to hospitals. The National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Dhaka Medical College admit over 50 people with severe burns, while other reports note more than 160 injured, many children, rushed for emergency care.
Casualties and Community Loss
Authorities confirm at least 19 fatalities, a heartbreaking toll that includes the pilot and several young students—among them a third-grader, with more distressing updates possible as the death count may rise. Flight Lieutenant Towkir was initially pulled alive from the wreckage, but later succumbed to his injuries. One teacher described the moment of horror: “I heard an explosion… I only saw fire and smoke”.
Emergency Response
Firefighters, army personnel, and Border Guard units rushed to extinguish the inferno. An MI‑17 helicopter helped with medevac operations. Schools in Uttara were swiftly placed under lockdown and a one‑day state mourning has been declared for Tuesday, July 22.
Investigations & National Repercussions
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus described the crash as “irreparable” and vowed a full inquiry and victim support. The BAF has convened an investigation committee to determine whether mechanical malfunction or pilot error led to the tragedy.
A Dark Turn in Aviation History
This marks the deadliest aviation accident in Dhaka in recent memory. It echoes last month’s devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives on board and 19 on the ground. With nearly 2,000 students enrolled on the campus, the community reels from an unimaginable loss entwining innocence, education, and national defense.
In the wake of this calamity, rescue units continue to battle fires, hospitals work overtime, and grieving families search for answers. Tonight, Dhaka mourns together — praying that tomorrow brings accountability, healing, and a commitment to prevent such tragedies from ever recurring.
A routine training mission turned into a national nightmare this afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force F‑7 BGI fighter‐trainer aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara, northern Dhaka. The aircraft, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar in his first solo sortie, took off at 1:06 pm BST from Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker Air Base. Just minutes later, the jet dove out of control and slammed into the school’s junior wing at around 1:18 pm, igniting a massive blaze that engulfed nearby buildings.
Spread of Tragedy
Flames erupted instantly, and thick black smoke billowed above the campus, creating a harrowing scene captured in eyewitness videos. Teachers, parents, and bystanders quickly formed a chain to pull out students, even filling rickshaws to rush victims to hospitals. The National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Dhaka Medical College admit over 50 people with severe burns, while other reports note more than 160 injured, many children, rushed for emergency care.
Casualties and Community Loss
Authorities confirm at least 19 fatalities, a heartbreaking toll that includes the pilot and several young students—among them a third-grader, with more distressing updates possible as the death count may rise. Flight Lieutenant Towkir was initially pulled alive from the wreckage, but later succumbed to his injuries. One teacher described the moment of horror: “I heard an explosion… I only saw fire and smoke”.
Emergency Response
Firefighters, army personnel, and Border Guard units rushed to extinguish the inferno. An MI‑17 helicopter helped with medevac operations. Schools in Uttara were swiftly placed under lockdown and a one‑day state mourning has been declared for Tuesday, July 22.
Investigations & National Repercussions
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus described the crash as “irreparable” and vowed a full inquiry and victim support. The BAF has convened an investigation committee to determine whether mechanical malfunction or pilot error led to the tragedy.
A Dark Turn in Aviation History
This marks the deadliest aviation accident in Dhaka in recent memory. It echoes last month’s devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives on board and 19 on the ground. With nearly 2,000 students enrolled on the campus, the community reels from an unimaginable loss entwining innocence, education, and national defense.
In the wake of this calamity, rescue units continue to battle fires, hospitals work overtime, and grieving families search for answers. Tonight, Dhaka mourns together — praying that tomorrow brings accountability, healing, and a commitment to prevent such tragedies from ever recurring.