A tragic military jet crash in Dhaka on Monday has left at least 19 people dead and more than 170 injured, many of them school students, after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft plunged into an educational institution in the city’s Diabari area. The horrific incident has shocked the region, with leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing grief and solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.
The crash occurred around 10:20 a.m. when a Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet, operated by Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam Sagar, lost control during a training session and crashed into the Milestone School and College, a prominent private institution located in the outskirts of the capital. The pilot was also among those killed in the crash, which sparked a massive explosion and fire on the campus.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. “Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” he wrote.
He added, “India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.”
Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2025
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as the aircraft nosedived into the school’s main academic block, where several classrooms were packed with students attending their morning sessions. Thick smoke billowed into the sky as emergency teams and fire services rushed to the scene to rescue trapped students and staff.
“We heard a loud explosion and saw flames coming from the building. Students were screaming and running everywhere. It was horrifying,” said Anwar Hossain, a local shopkeeper near the school. “Many people rushed in to help even before the emergency teams arrived.”
Rescue operations lasted several hours, with fire officials, military personnel, and paramedics working in tandem to evacuate the injured and control the blaze. Authorities later confirmed that over 170 people were wounded, several of them critically, and were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka, including the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and United Hospital.
The outpouring of support from India comes amid strong bilateral ties between the neighboring countries. Indian officials have reportedly reached out to their Bangladeshi counterparts to offer medical and technical assistance, if required.
Meanwhile, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus, called the crash an “irreparable loss” and a moment of “profound pain for the nation.” He assured citizens that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the crash and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The nation stands united in grief. We have lost many promising young lives today, and we are committed to doing everything possible to support the affected families,” Yunus said during a press briefing on Monday evening. He also instructed hospitals across Dhaka to provide immediate and priority care to the injured, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Initial reports suggest that the aircraft was returning to base following a routine air exercise when technical issues may have caused the pilot to lose control. The F-7 BGI is a Chinese-built aircraft based on the Soviet-era MiG-21 design and has been in service with the Bangladesh Air Force for over a decade. Questions are now being raised about the aircraft’s safety and maintenance records.
Flags across the country were flown at half-mast on Tuesday as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives. A national day of mourning has been declared, and memorial services are being planned at various schools and government buildings.
As Bangladesh comes to terms with the scale of the tragedy, support continues to pour in from international partners, including India, which reaffirmed its commitment to stand beside its neighbor in times of grief.