Details of the accident: On July 21, 2025, at approximately 1:06 pm (Indian time), a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI trainer aircraft, manufactured in China, crashed on the campus of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttra area. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft crashed on the roof of the school’s canteen, where students were present at the time, and a class was in progress. “At least one person has died and four others have been injured in the accident,” Fire Service and Civil Defense official Lima Khan told the Associated Press by phone. However, she did not provide any details about the identity of the deceased or the condition of the pilot. A spokesperson for Milestone School and College said the aircraft crashed near the school gate, from where it reached the inner part of the campus. “The aircraft crashed at the school gate and hit a nearby building,” she told BD News 24. A class was going on at the time. The injured are being taken out one by one. Chaos on campus: Chaos on the campus of Milestone School and College due to the plane crash spread. Videos viral on social media showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the school building, while students were running in panic. An eyewitness, Naeemul Hassan Adil, a first-year student of Milestone College, said: “The plane first crashed into building number 7, then into the primary school building, which was 100-150 meters away. We saw the pilot eject from the plane by parachute.” According to The Daily Star, at least 13 people were injured in the accident, some of whom are in critical condition. Rescue operations: Eight teams of the Bangladesh Army, Fire Service and Civil Defence, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel rushed to the scene as soon as the accident was reported. Fire service teams from Uttara, Tongi, Pallabi, Karmitula, Mirpur, and Prabachal fire stations were dispatched and the fire was brought under control by around 2:45 am. A teacher said the plane crashed into the front of the three-story school building, trapping several students. Teachers and college staff immediately began rescue operations, with the military and firefighters later joining in. The air force took over. Due to the lack of ambulances, military personnel carried the injured students in their arms and took them to hospitals in rickshaw vans and other vehicles. Official statements: Bangladesh Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He said: “This accident has caused irreparable loss to the Air Force, students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College. This is a moment of deep sorrow for the nation. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and direct all concerned authorities to deal with this situation on priority.” The Bangladesh Air Force confirmed the accident but did not release any statement on the pilot’s ejection or the cause of the crash. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what went wrong with the Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft. Social and national response: The tragedy has shocked not only the students and staff of Milestone College but also the entire nation. Videos and photos viral on social media highlighted the extent of the devastation, with one student seen carrying his injured classmate in his arms. He was seen being taken to the hospital. An X-post said: “The crash of a training plane at Milestone College in Dhaka’s Uttara is a national tragedy. The safety of students should be the top priority.” Source: The Daily Star: BD News 24: X-posts: