Bangladesh Jet Crashes School: Thirty-Five Dead in Dhaka

A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into the Milestone School campus in Dhaka seconds after takeoff, killing 35 people and injuring 173 in one of the country's worst aviation disasters. The Chinese-made FT-7BGI plowed through classrooms during school hours, maximizing the civilian toll. The tragedy reignited demands to relocate military flight operations away from densely populated areas. The crash occurred on June 14, 2025, when the single-seat trainer experienced a catastrophic failure during its takeoff roll from BAF Base Kurmitola, adjacent to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in northern Dhaka. The aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and struck the school compound located less than two kilometers from the runway. The crash occurred during mid-morning, when classrooms were full. Students and teachers were among the dead and injured, and the wreckage destroyed multiple school buildings. The FT-7BGI, a Chinese-built supersonic trainer based on the MiG-21 design, was part of the Bangladesh Air Force's aging fleet that had been the subject of previous safety concerns. Military aviation accidents near civilian populations are a recurring issue in developing countries where air bases built decades ago are now surrounded by urban growth that has encroached on flight paths and runway approach zones. The Dhaka crash prompted the Bangladesh government to announce a review of all military flight operations near populated areas and to consider relocating training operations to less congested bases. The investigation focused on whether the aircraft experienced engine failure or pilot error during the critical takeoff phase.