The death toll from Monday’s devastating Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crash in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood has climbed to 22, with 171 people injured many critically in one of the deadliest peacetime aviation disasters in the country’s history, which occurred on July 21.
The crash took place in the early afternoon near the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of Uttara, a densely populated part of the capital.
According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the ill-fated F-7 BGI aircraft took off at 1:06 PM on a routine training flight but plummeted moments later, smashing into the school premises and triggering chaos and widespread panic.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as plumes of black smoke rose from the crash site. Witnesses described scenes of horror as parts of the school building caught fire, and students and staff were seen fleeing in panic. Local residents joined first responders in pulling injured victims from the rubble before ambulances arrived.
By Monday evening, 20 people had been confirmed dead. Two more victims later died from severe burn injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit one around 10:30 PM on Monday and another just after midnight on Tuesday bringing the official death toll to 22. Many others remain in critical condition.
Among the deceased is Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the pilot of the aircraft, who was on his first solo training mission. Despite reported efforts to steer the jet away from densely populated areas, he was unable to avoid the crash. He was pronounced dead at the Combined Military Hospital shortly after being rescued.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the accident. A high-level committee from the Bangladesh Air Force has been formed to determine the technical cause behind the crash. Initial reports suggest a mechanical failure, but officials say more details will emerge once the inquiry concludes.
The incident has once again raised pressing concerns over the safety and age of Bangladesh’s military aircraft fleet,particularly the Chinese-manufactured F-7 series jets, which have been involved in numerous accidents over the years. Urban expansion around air bases has also come under renewed scrutiny, as experts warn that unregulated development near flight paths significantly increases the risk of civilian casualties in the event of accidents.
As Bangladesh mourns the lives lost in this harrowing tragedy, calls for sweeping reforms in air safety protocols and urban planning around military zones have grown louder. The nation now looks to its leaders and institutions for answers and action.
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