Bangladesh Fighter Jet Crash Kills 25, Including Schoolchildren; Nation Declares Mourning

At least 25 people, including several schoolchildren, were killed after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka on Monday. The crash left 171 others injured, most of them students between the ages of 8 and 14.

Initially, officials reported 20 fatalities, but the toll later rose to 25, according to doctors cited by the Associated Press. The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft, which went down due to suspected mechanical failure, also claimed the life of the pilot.

What We Know So Far:

• Casualties: 25 confirmed dead, including the pilot and many students. At least 171 people sustained injuries; over 25 are reported to be in critical condition.

• Crash Site: The jet plummeted into Milestone School and College in the Uttara area of Dhaka during class hours.

• Cause: A preliminary statement from the Bangladesh military attributes the crash to mechanical failure. A full investigation is underway.

• National Mourning: Interim Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus has declared a national day of mourning on Tuesday. “The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff… is irreparable,” he said.

• Worst Crash Since 1984: This is Bangladesh’s deadliest aviation incident since a 1984 commercial jet crash that killed all 49 passengers.

Critical Injuries:

Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Director of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, confirmed that over 25 victims are in critical condition. “Burn is a dynamic process… at present, 25 patients are being treated in ICU and HDU,” he told ANI.

Global Condolences:

World leaders and foreign governments expressed their condolences. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was “deeply shocked and saddened” and offered support. The U.S. State Department also issued a statement of sympathy, calling the crash “tragic” and expressing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.

The incident comes just a month after a deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 260 people when the aircraft struck a medical college campus shortly after takeoff.