Dhaka: A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring 164 others. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet caught fire after impact, striking a two-storey building while students were attending class. Authorities have confirmed that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, was among those killed.

Who was Towkir Islam Sagar?

Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the Bangladesh Air Force pilot at the centre of the tragic F-7 BGI crash in Dhaka’s Uttara, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). The fatal crash, which occurred on Monday, claimed at least 19 lives and injured over 160, making it one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory.

Local media reports noted that Sagar began his aviation journey with 100 hours of flight training in PT-6 aircraft during his cadet years. After serving with the 15th Squadron and logging approximately 60 hours of flight time, he moved to the 35th Squadron, where he continued his service until the fatal crash.

Flight lieutenant who tried to steer the plane away from dense areas

Sagar, a committed pilot from the 35th Squadron and part of the 76 BAFA course, reportedly tried to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas in a final effort to save lives, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate. Despite his attempts, the Chinese-made F-7 BGI training jet crashed into a two-storey building on the Milestone School and College campus in Diabari, Uttara.

“To manage the situation and prevent major damage, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, made every effort to steer the aircraft from a densely populated area to a less crowded location. Unfortunately, the jet crashed unexpectedly into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in Diabari, Dhaka. The sudden accident resulted in 19 deaths, including the pilot, and 164 injuries,” the ISPR said in its statement, as reported by Dhaka Tribune.

Crash during school hours sparks panic

The aircraft had taken off from a nearby airbase at 1:06 p.m. local time and crashed shortly after, bursting into flames. At the time of the crash, the school, which houses around 2,000 students from elementary to Class 12, was conducting regular classes.

“I was terrified watching videos on TV,” said 16-year-old Rafiqa Taha, a student of the school, speaking to The Associated Press. “My God! It’s my school.”

Witnesses and first responders described scenes of chaos, with injured students being rushed to hospitals using any available means, including tricycle rickshaws. Most of the injured were students, though their identities have yet to be formally confirmed. Many of the victims are currently being treated at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Condolences from the government

The crash site, engulfed in fire and thick black smoke as seen in television footage, has triggered an ongoing rescue operation. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed his condolences over the tragedy on social media platform X:

“I express my profound grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of casualties due to the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in the capital’s Diabari area today.”

While the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The Bangladesh Army and Air Force have confirmed the aircraft involved was an F-7 BGI model, a Chinese-made supersonic fighter used for training purposes.

(With inputs from agencies)