A Chinese-made F-7 fighter jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara, northern Dhaka, on Monday afternoon, causing widespread devastation. The crash occurred around 1:30 pm, killing at least 18 people, including the pilot, and injuring more than 100 others. One eyewitness, Fahim Hossain, a student at the school, described the horrifying moment: “The jet crashed right in front of my eyes, just 10 feet away. It hit the ground floor of a two-storey building where primary school classes were being held.” The impact caused massive damage to the building.
Another student, Rafiqa Taha, who wasn’t on campus at the time, expressed her shock and heartbreak after watching the news. “I was terrified watching videos on TV. My God! It is my school,” said the 16-year-old. Milestone School and College has around 2,000 students from elementary to class 12. The crash has left the entire school community in shock and mourning.
As rescue teams worked at the scene, ambulances moved in and out of the school grounds, while anxious parents and family members gathered outside, desperate for news. One father said, “I’ve spoken to my son on the phone, but I still haven’t found him here.” Students who escaped the crash were visibly shaken and in tears, many still trying to process the terrifying experience. Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow in a post, calling the loss to the Air Force, students, and school staff “irreparable.”
