Reason Revealed Behind Aircraft Crash

A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka shortly after 1:30 PM on Monday. The latest reports confirm 19 fatalities and over 200 injuries as a result of this tragic incident.

Emergency Response and Scene Overview

At the crash site, members of the Army, Air Force, and Fire Service are engaged in extensive rescue operations, with nine fire service units deployed. The scene is crowded with concerned parents, relatives of students, and onlookers, all bearing expressions of intense worry and fear.

The aircraft crashed directly onto the entrance of a two-storey building, specifically the Haider Ali Building, causing widespread damage. Fire service workers and military personnel are cutting apart sections of the aircraft using specialised tools to facilitate rescue efforts.

Chronology and Eyewitness Accounts

Classes were in session at Milestone School and College when the aircraft came down with a loud explosion, creating chaos among students and locals. Parents rushed to the school in panic, desperately trying to locate their children. Many were left in deep anxiety.

At the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, relatives of the burn victims were seen in tears, creating a heart-wrenching atmosphere.

Sabuj Mia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting at Milestone College, recounted:
“The aircraft crashed at the entrance of the two-storey building. Classes had just ended; some students had already left while others were still inside. Flames erupted almost instantly, and thick smoke engulfed the surrounding area.”

According to eyewitness students, the aircraft tore through the main gate, entering the room beneath the stairs where school staff usually sit.

Technical Cause and Flight Details

A retired Air Force officer revealed that the pilot, Squadron Leader Tawqir Islam Sagor, was conducting his first solo training mission. He was practising a manoeuvre called “Nap-of-the-Earth” (NOE) flight — a low-altitude flying technique used to avoid enemy radar and visual detection.

It is believed that during the manoeuvre, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and aimed for the open school field in an emergency attempt to make a safe landing. However, he ultimately lost full control, and the aircraft ploughed through the Haider Ali building, entering from one side and exiting from the other.

Voices from the Ground

Shah Bulbul, Public Relations Officer at Milestone School and College, stated:
“The aircraft crashed at the gate of an academic building where classes were ongoing. Injured individuals are being carried out one after another.”

Lucky Akhter, a distressed parent at the scene, said:
“My two children attend this school. I’ve been able to get my elder child out, but I can’t find my younger one. I’ve had no contact.”

Ferdousi, another parent, reported that her daughter was still trapped inside and unreachable.

About the Aircraft Model

The aircraft involved was an F-7 model, an ageing fighter jet manufactured in the 1980s, specifically around 1984. This model is no longer in operational use globally, raising serious concerns over its continued deployment.

The tragedy has left a nation in mourning, and questions are being raised about air safety protocols, aircraft age, and school safety near military training zones. A full investigation is expected in the coming days.