Year 10 student Farhan Hasan had just completed his exam and was chatting with friends when a tragedy unfolded before his eyes—a Bangladeshi Air Force training jet crashed into his school campus, killing at least 27 people and injuring over 170.

“The burning plane hit the building right in front of me,” said Farhan, a student at Milestone School and College. “My best friend, who was just in the exam hall with me, died right in front of my eyes. The plane passed right over his head. Parents were waiting inside to pick up their children—the plane took them too.”

The crash occurred shortly after 1:00 PM local time in a densely populated northern suburb of Dhaka. Footage from the scene shows a massive blaze and thick smoke rising from a two-storey school building. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, was among those killed in the incident. Officials confirmed the F-7 fighter jet had developed a mechanical fault during a routine training flight.

Witnesses Describe Chaos and Carnage

Teachers and staff recounted the horror. Rezaul Islam, a teacher, said he saw the aircraft hit the school building directly. Another teacher, Masud Tarik, told Reuters, “I heard a loud explosion. When I turned around, there was only fire and smoke. There were many children and parents at the scene.”

In the aftermath, scenes of panic gripped the neighborhood as ambulances rushed to transport the injured. Around 30 ambulances were deployed, and volunteers helped evacuate students and staff. Onlookers gathered in shock, climbing rooftops to get a view of the wreckage and rescue efforts.

Rescue teams worked to remove rubble while others searched for survivors or carried out bodies. A mother told the BBC she had received a phone call from her son moments after the crash—but had not heard from him since.

Children Among the Dead and Injured

Many of the victims were children. Doctors at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery reported treating over 50 patients, most of them minors aged between 9 and 14. Grief-stricken relatives filled hospital corridors. One of them, Shah Alam, mourned his nephew, Tanvir Ahmed, a Year 8 student who lost his life. Tanvir’s father, overwhelmed with grief, remained silent beside him.

Bangladesh’s health ministry confirmed that at least seven hospitals were involved in treating the injured. Public support quickly poured in, with blood donation drives and expressions of sympathy from political leaders.

Nation Declares Mourning

The government declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. Flags were lowered to half-mast, and political leaders visited hospitals to meet survivors.

Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, pledged a full investigation. “This is a moment of profound grief for the nation. I have directed all relevant authorities to respond with the utmost urgency,” he said.

A committee has been formed to determine the cause of the crash. According to a military statement, the pilot had attempted to steer the jet toward a less populated area after detecting a fault, but he had only just taken off from a nearby air force base.

As Bangladesh mourns, the nation seeks answers and healing following a disaster that has left families shattered and a school community forever changed.