A Tragedy in the Sky
On 21 July, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft plummeted into the Diabari campus of Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka. Within moments, classrooms turned into infernos. The blast tore through the building just as students were nearing the end of their afternoon lessons, leaving at least 31 dead—mostly children—and over 170 injured.
Inside the Milestone College exam hall, 19-year-old student SM Mahin was just beginning his English paper when the floor shook violently.
He later joined rescue efforts, helping burned schoolchildren until collapsing from heat and exhaustion, later waking up at Uttara Adhunik Hospital.
That hospital, too, became a scene of heartbreak.
From 2:30 PM onwards, a steady stream of charred bodies and scorched survivors flooded its emergency unit. Dr. Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, deputy director of the hospital, described an overwhelming influx of injured—mostly students aged 12 to 16. At least 60 were transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
An Avoidable Disaster?
The aircraft involved, part of a long-serving fleet of F-7 BGIs, had been undergoing training maneuvers when it reportedly suffered a technical failure mid-air.
Alleged CCTV footage, later circulated online, shows the jet nosediving just seconds before impact. ISPR claims the pilot attempted to steer the jet away from more densely populated zones and chose not to eject, presumably to reduce civilian casualties—an act of bravery that cost him his life.
The F7 BGI is the most advanced Chinese-made version of the F7 fighter jet, based on the 1959 Soviet MiG-21. Designed for air combat, patrols, and training, it reportedly features modern cockpit tech and was custom-upgraded for Bangladesh before production ended in 2013.
Yet many are asking: why was such a high-risk training flight being conducted over one of the most densely populated areas of the capital?
Bangladesh’s aviation sector has long suffered from aging infrastructure and policy paralysis. Despite over 20 million people living in Dhaka, it relies on a single active runway at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which shares airspace with military jets and around 100 private helicopters daily. This congested sky has already witnessed at least 15 fatal training crashes in the last two decades.
Experts have repeatedly warned that flying fast-moving fighter aircraft over urban centers is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Fighter jets require wide, low-risk areas for training—something Dhaka, with its sprawling concrete jungle, simply does not offer. Yet military bases and flying academies continue to operate from within the city’s limits.
Grief and Government Promises
The government declared a day of national mourning on July 22. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow, calling the tragedy an irreparable loss not just for the Air Force but for the nation’s children and their families. He vowed that a high-level investigation would determine the crash’s cause and pledged full support for victims.
Meanwhile, critics point to years of inaction. Calls for relocating military air operations out of Dhaka have allegedly been repeatedly ignored. Even basic safety infrastructure, such as modern radar systems or Instrument Landing Systems, reportedly remains absent or outdated at major airports.
“She Hasn’t Been Found Yet”
Outside the hospitals, families continue to search for missing loved ones. Third-grader Afia’s uncle had still not located her hours after the crash. “We’ve searched everywhere,” he said, voice trembling. Like many others, he stands among dozens camping outside ICUs, waiting for any news.
Back at the burn institute, medical teams struggle to treat children like Ayan, who can no longer speak due to smoke damage to his lungs. His mother, a banker, rushed from work upon receiving the call. Now, she stands by his ICU bed, watching helplessly as her only son begs to go home.
Among the victims was Maherin C, a courageous teacher who lost her life trying to rescue students from the burning school building. In her final moments, she expressed that those she saved were as dear to her as her own children.
Her husband recalled her last words, revealing the depth of her selflessness and sacrifice.
A Wake-Up Call Too Late?
This tragedy is not just about malfunctioning equipment or one fatal error. It’s the result of institutional complacency and an outdated aviation model, where children’s lives are collateral damage in military routines.
Until training flights are removed from civilian skies and aviation governance is put into competent hands, Dhaka’s residents remain at risk. The charred remains of students at Milestone School are a haunting reminder of what that risk costs.
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