Hundreds of students gathered outside the devastated Milestone School and College in Dhaka on March 11, 2024, demanding answers following a **tragic plane crash** that claimed the lives of at least **27 individuals**, including **25 children**. The incident occurred when a **Bangladesh Air Force** jet suffered a mid-air mechanical failure, crashing into the school during a routine training mission. The event turned a typical school day into a scene of horror as flames engulfed the two-story building filled with young students.
On the afternoon of the crash, children were concluding their classes and parents had arrived to pick them up. The aircraft struck around **1:18 p.m. local time**, resulting in the deadliest air tragedy in Bangladesh’s recent history. In addition to the fatalities, **171 others** sustained injuries, with many suffering from severe burns.
As emergency personnel worked tirelessly at the site on Tuesday, emotions ran high among the grieving community. Witnesses described the chaos and devastation. **Mohammad Imran Hussein**, a lecturer at the school, recounted the horrifying moment: “The sound was really intolerable. I looked around to see what happened, I saw the tail of the plane. I saw a huge flame of fire.”
The Milestone School and College serves students from kindergarten through high school, with the building destroyed in the crash housing around **100 children** aged between six and thirteen. “It’s like this building was turned into a death trap,” remarked **Sheik Rameen**, a high school student who witnessed the aftermath. “I saw a lot of children; I tried to save their lives.”
The **FT-7 jet**, involved in the incident, was reportedly on a training mission when it encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff. The pilot, **Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam**, attempted to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but tragically lost control. Reports indicate that the aircraft is part of a fleet acquired by Bangladesh in **2011**.
Graphic images from the crash site showed the wreckage embedded in the school’s structure, while emergency crews worked to rescue survivors. Hospitals in Dhaka quickly became overwhelmed as families rushed to inquire about their loved ones. Most of the injured at **Dhaka Medical College Hospital** were children under the age of 12, according to resident surgeon **Harunur Rashid**.
In the wake of this catastrophe, Bangladesh’s interim government leader **Muhammad Yunus** expressed his sorrow, stating, “I have no words. I don’t know how to begin.” He acknowledged the unimaginable nature of the event, emphasizing the pain felt by families who lost children in the tragedy. Yunus described the crash as an incident that “crashed and fell upon these innocent children” and lamented the loss of life.
As investigations continue, the government has stated that it is not withholding information regarding the crash. However, the community’s grief and anger over the loss of young lives remains palpable. As the nation mourns, many are left questioning how such a tragedy could occur and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
