Bangladesh Air Crash Tragedy: A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashes into a Dhaka school, killing 16, mostly children; PM Modi extends India’s support.
An F-7 BGI training jet from the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed into Milestone School and College in the heavily populated Uttara neighborhood of Dhaka on July 21, 2025, causing a devastating air disaster that rocked the country. Over 170 people, mostly students, were injured in the tragedy, which claimed at least 27 lives, including 17 children, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, and several others. At around 1:18 PM local time (07:18 GMT), the incident became one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Bangladeshi history, surpassing an F-7 crash in 2008 that claimed the life of only its pilot. Shortly after taking off on a routine training mission from Kurmitola Air Force Base, the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction that caused it to crash into the two-story school building where classes were being held.
A huge explosion and fire were started by the impact, destroying large portions of the school and seriously damaging its structure. Witnesses reported a loud explosion, dense black smoke, and flames that quickly spread throughout the campus. The crash site, a school with many young students, increased the tragedy’s death toll, but the pilot’s attempt to direct the plane toward a less populated area probably prevented an even larger loss of life. Children between the ages of 8 and 14 made up the majority of the victims, and many of them had serious burns or other injuries from falling debris. Firefighters, military personnel, and BAF helicopters were among the emergency response teams that were quickly mobilized. At least 25 people were reported in critical condition at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, one of the hospitals where the injured were taken after being hurried. Medical personnel worked tirelessly, prioritizing burn victims, many of whom required intensive care.
Under the interim leadership of Muhammad Yunus, the government of Bangladesh reacted with sorrow and urgency. Yunus referred to the loss as “irreparable” and urged medical facilities to give survivors the best care available. Flags nationwide were lowered to half-mast on July 22, which was designated as a national day of mourning. Initial reports suggested a mechanical issue with the Chinese-made F-7 BGI, a single-engine fighter jet used for training, which prompted the formation of a high-level committee led by the defense ministry to look into the cause of the crash. The goal of the investigation is to determine whether the accident was caused by equipment failure, maintenance errors, or human error. The reliability of the aging fleet was called into question when the BAF grounded all F-7 aircraft while it awaited preliminary findings.
Leaders from around the world showed support for Bangladesh. “Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost a loved one. India is prepared to offer Bangladesh all the help and support it can. Leaders from China, the Maldives, Pakistan, and other countries also expressed their condolences, demonstrating the tragedy’s global reach. The F-7 jet’s manufacturer, China, provided technical support to help with the investigation.
In Bangladesh, the crash has caused a great deal of grief and indignation, and the safety of military training exercises close to residential areas has become a hot topic of conversation. Situated in a busy area of Dhaka, Kurmitola Air Force Base has long been a source of conflict because of its close proximity to residential and educational areas. Calls for moving such facilities and tighter control over military aircraft maintenance erupted on social media sites like X. Outside the school, parents and community members gathered to express their grief over the deaths of children and to call for accountability.
This catastrophe has rekindled discussions about Bangladesh’s defense infrastructure and highlights the dangers of flying outdated military aircraft in urban areas. The government is under increasing pressure to support the impacted families—many of whom lost their only child—while addressing safety concerns. Although counseling services and financial assistance have been promised, the emotional toll on the Uttara community and the country as a whole is significant. The tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the necessity of strong safety procedures to stop such catastrophic losses in the future as investigations continue.
