Tragedy Strikes as Bangladesh Fighter Jet Crashes into School

The Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka, killing at least 31 people, mostly children. Eyewitnesses recount the traumatic experience as rescuers and survivors grapple with the aftermath of the disaster.

In a heart-wrenching account of tragedy, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka, leaving at least 31 dead and many others injured, marking one of the nation's deadliest aviation disasters. Eyewitness reports describe the moments leading up to the crash, which occurred on Monday when the plane, undergoing a training flight, malfunctioned shortly after takeoff.

Ahnaf Bin Hasan, an 18-year-old student who witnessed the chaos unfold, described the terrifying moment the jet crashed: "It was like 30 or 40 thunderbolts falling from the sky." Just moments before, he had been conversing with a friend on the school's playground. When the jet descended, Ahnaf dropped to the ground instinctively, only to be engulfed in smoke and flames moments later.

Among the victims were many children, some waiting to be picked up or attending after-school classes. Initially, the pilot managed to eject just before impact, but died later from his injuries. Eyewitnesses recalled devastating scenes as flames spread through the school, and Ahnaf reported that children's cries filled the air, mixing with the horror of sighting the devastation and loss of life.

Amid the chaos, courageous acts emerged. Ahnaf recalled how he helped rescue injured students and even gave his shirt to one who had escaped the fire. Mahreen Chowdhury, a teacher, exemplified bravery by saving numerous children before succumbing to her injuries.

The tragedy has taken a profound emotional toll on the entire community. One victim's uncle recounted the agonizing search for his niece's body in the wake of the disaster, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles families faced while grieving. In a bizarre twist of fate, another child narrowly escaped the crash simply by opting to buy food instead of bringing lunch.

As the government and military issued conflicting death tolls and numbers of injuries, suspicions of information concealment surfaced, although both entities denied such claims. Survivors like Ahnaf now carry the heavy burden of trauma, claiming to hear screams and seeing smoke even in moments of quietude.

The Milestone School, typically filled with laughter and chatter, stands as a haunting reminder of that fateful day, with students and staff left grappling with the loss and the immediate need for healing in a community shattered by violence and grief. The echoes of that day—screams of terror and the sight of flames—will linger long in their memories.