Bangladesh Tragedy: Air Force Jet Crash Claims 27 Lives, Including 25 Children
Bangladesh is mourning today. A training jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a school and college complex in Dhaka on Monday, leaving 27 people dead, 25 of them children.
The F-7 BGI aircraft went down shortly after take-off from Kurmitola Airbase, turning a routine mission into one of the country’s most heart-wrenching tragedies in recent memory.
“Those dead included 25 children, a teacher, and the pilot,” confirmed Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser on health, as rescue workers continued pulling victims from the smouldering wreckage.
The crash occurred at 1:06 p.m. local time. According to military officials, the jet suffered a mechanical failure moments after take-off.
The plane spiralled out of control and slammed into the densely packed campus, igniting a blaze that tore through classrooms and administrative buildings.
Charred walls. Shattered glass. Sirens piercing the smoke-filled air. Grieving families flooded the scene, many inconsolable.
Rescue footage, now circulating widely, shows emergency crews frantically navigating the debris.
Amid the chaos, stunned bystanders prayed, hoping for survivors. A total of 88 people, mostly students and staff, were rushed to hospital with burn injuries.
“This is a national tragedy. We are in shock,” said a government spokesperson earlier today. In response, Bangladesh has declared a national day of mourning.
Flags are flying at half-mast, and special prayers will be held across mosques, temples, churches, and pagodas throughout the nation.
The F-7 BGI jet is considered the most advanced model in China’s Chengdu J-7/F-7 fighter series. Bangladesh had acquired 16 of these aircraft under a 2011 agreement, with all units delivered by 2013.
The crash has raised fresh concerns about the safety of ageing or imported military hardware. Investigations are already underway.
The tragedy has also drawn comparisons to India’s recent catastrophe, where an Air India flight crashed into a medical college in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including passengers and those on the ground.
This is not just a story about a failed jet. It’s about lost futures — young lives taken too soon.
The nation watches, heartbroken. And asks: could this have been prevented?
