A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training aircraft crashed into a building at Milestone College’s Diabari campus in the capital’s Uttara area on Monday, July 21, sparking a massive fire and causing multiple casualties, officials confirmed.
The F-7 BGI jet, operated by BAF, took off at 1:06 PM and plummeted into the college premises moments later, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The crash triggered a loud explosion, with thick smoke and flames seen rising from the impact site.
Eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed Bangladesh Army personnel and firefighters rescuing injured students, several of whom appeared to have suffered severe burn injuries. The incident occurred just as students were exiting the building after the end of the school day.
Emergency teams from the Bangladesh Army and Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene. At least eight fire units from Uttara, Tongi, Pallabi, Kurmitola, Mirpur, and Purbachal were deployed to contain the fire and assist with rescue efforts.
The pilot of the aircraft has been identified as Squadron Leader Md Towkir Islam, though it remains unclear whether he managed to eject before impact.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) confirmed the crash, with Deputy Commissioner Mohidul Islam stating, “The jet crashed into one of the college buildings at Diabari. Firefighters reached the site around 1:22 PM.” An official from the college said the plane struck the part of the building designated for early-grade classes.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, along with police and ISPR, has confirmed the incident. Two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to support rescue operations and ensure law and order in the area.
The Fire Service central control room stated that a formal briefing will be held once the rescue operation concludes. The exact number of casualties is still being verified.
