On Monday, July 21, 2025, a catastrophic accident struck Dhaka, Bangladesh, when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in the Uttara neighborhood, claiming at least 20 lives and injuring over 170 people. The jet, which suffered a mechanical fault shortly after takeoff at 1:06 p.m. local time (07:06 GMT) from BAF Base Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker, crashed into a two-story building, triggering a massive fire and widespread devastation. Among the victims were 17 children, mostly students who had just been dismissed from classes, highlighting the tragic toll on young lives.

The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Taukir Islam, was among those killed. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the pilot made a valiant effort to steer the jet away from densely populated areas to minimize civilian casualties, but the aircraft ultimately crashed into the school campus. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI, a variant of the Chengdu J-7 Airguard, was on a routine training mission when the mechanical failure occurred. The Bangladesh Air Force has formed a high-level committee to investigate the cause of the crash, which marks the deadliest aviation disaster in the country in decades.

The crash site at Milestone School and College, located in the Diabari area of northern Dhaka, was engulfed in flames and thick smoke, with footage showing firefighters battling the blaze and emergency crews searching through charred rubble for survivors. Many of the injured, primarily students aged 10 to 15, suffered severe jet fuel burns, with over 50 hospitalized in critical condition at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and other facilities, including Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital. A doctor at the burn institute reported that the number of injured continued to rise, with at least 43 victims under 18.