In brief
In an unprecedented aviation disaster in Dhaka, a fighter jet from the Bangladesh Air Force plummeted into the Milestone School and College, killing at least 31 individuals, predominantly young children, and causing widespread chaos. Eyewitness accounts detail the horror and frantic response from students and staff as they rushed to assist the victims amidst flames and smoke.
The incident unfolded on a busy Monday as the F-7 fighter jet, reportedly suffering from a mechanical fault, nosedived into the two-storey school building in the Uttara neighborhood. Ahnaf Bin Hasan, an 18-year-old student, recalled the harrowing moment the jet descended, likening it to "30 or 40 thunderbolts falling from the sky." Many students, including those waiting for rides or attending coaching classes, were in the vicinity when the crash occurred.Ahnaf, who was mere feet away when the jet crashed, described witnessing the immediate aftermath: "All I could see was smoke, fire, and darkness. Children were screaming. Everything was chaos." The air force stated the pilot managed to eject before impact but ultimately succumbed to injuries in the hospital.As the flames engulfed the school, students like Ahnaf became reluctant heroes, helping to carry injured classmates to safety and controlling the crush of onlookers. Amidst the chaos, the tragic loss of young lives weighed heavily on many. Eleven-year-old Wakia Firdous Nidhi was one of the victims, and her family faced distressing bureaucratic hurdles in retrieving her body for burial after identification.As authorities continue to investigate the crash, discrepancies in reported casualty numbers have arisen. While the government announced 29 deaths, the military stated there were 31 fatalities. Survivors, teachers, and families are left grappling with the trauma and loss, as some victims remain unaccounted for.In the aftermath, the emotional toll is profound, with students and staff plagued by visions of the disaster. Ahnaf, still petrified, articulated the lingering effects: "Every time I look outside, I feel like a fighter jet is coming at me. When I close my eyes, it's not darkness I see - it's smoke." The tragedy marks a dark chapter in Bangladesh's aviation history and raises questions about safety and oversight as the nation mourns its lost children.
