July 21st, 2025 - Bangladesh Air Force Plane Crashes Into School, Leaving at Least 20 Dead

A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, killing at least 20 people and injuring 164 others, military officials confirmed. The crash occurred at Milestone School and College in Uttara, a neighborhood north of Dhaka's international airport. According to a statement from the Bangladeshi military, a mechanical error caused the crash, and further details will be provided after an investigation.

The crash, which took place as students joined in the rescue effort, resulted in large crowds gathering around the site. Police, military personnel, fire officials, and emergency workers struggled to manage the chaos as people lined up to donate blood. Helicopters and ambulances rushed the injured to a hospital that specializes in treating burns, with the pilot of the aircraft confirmed dead.

The aircraft had taken off from an air base near the airport shortly after 1 p.m. local time before crashing into the second floor of a school building where third- and fourth-grade students were attending classes. Brig. Gen. Muhammad Jahed Kamal from Bangladesh's national fire department reported that the pilot had attempted to steer the plane toward a less populated area to avoid further casualties.

Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene. Emon Islam, a high school student, saw the wreckage on fire after the crash. “I saw the windows of the aircraft shattered, and it was burning with flames, sprawling into the sky,” he said. Meanwhile, Ambia Akter, a mother whose son was trapped inside the building, expressed her distress. “I was trying to enter the campus building, but it was not possible due to a heavy crowd,” she said, fearing for her son's safety.

Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed condolences for the victims and vowed a thorough investigation. “The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” Yunus wrote in a social media statement.

By evening, the government had not released the names of the victims, but a national day of mourning was declared for Tuesday. Public buildings were instructed to fly flags at half-staff, and special prayers were planned at places of worship to honor those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

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