Bangladesh Grieves After Devastating Fighter Jet Crash at School

A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into a primary school in Dhaka, resulting in 31 fatalities, including many children. Eyewitnesses describe terrifying moments, acts of bravery, and ongoing grief as the community grapples with the aftermath.

The skies over Dhaka turned chaotic when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College, resulting in a staggering loss of life and widespread panic. Eyewitnesses, including 18-year-old student Ahnaf Bin Hasan, shared harrowing accounts of their experiences as the tragedy unfolded, marking this as one of the country's deadliest aviation disasters.

"It was like 30 or 40 thunderbolts falling from the sky," said Hasan, who witnessed the jet nosedive into the school building just feet away from where he stood. The impact claimed at least 31 lives, predominantly children under 12, many of whom were waiting to be picked up or heading to classes when tragedy struck.

In a rapid sequence of events, the plane exploded upon colliding with the school, sending flames and chaos through the campus. "All I could see was smoke, fire, and darkness. Children were screaming. Everything was chaos," Hasan recounted deeply shaken over the phone days later.

According to military reports, the fighter jet encountered a mechanical fault shortly after takeoff during a training flight. The pilot ejected but suffered fatal injuries after landing, as his parachute descended onto the roof of a nearby structure.

Amidst the inferno, Hasan and other students displayed exceptional bravery, aiding victims in desperate need of rescue amidst crumbling walls and scattered debris. Tragically, many students lost their lives, including 11-year-old Wakia Firdous Nidhi, whose family has been caught in a bureaucratic nightmare seeking to claim her body, prevented from doing so due to an ongoing investigation.

The emotional toll of the tragedy is unbearable for many families and survivors. Ahnaf, affected by the sights and sounds of that fateful day, struggles to cope with his memories. "Every time I look outside, I feel like a fighter jet is coming at me," he admitted, haunted by the screams of classmates and the charred remains of his peers.

In the wake of the crash, social media buzzed with speculation about a possible cover-up regarding the death toll and injuries, which the military firmly denied. With grief palpable across the community, the headteacher of the school revealed that several individuals are still unaccounted for amid the chaos.

As the days pass, the emotional scars remain fresh. The indelible images of trauma and loss echo in the hearts of survivors like Ahnaf, who remarked, "When I close my eyes, it's not darkness I see - it's smoke." The community stands together in mourning, struggling to navigate the aftermath of an indescribable horror that, for many, has become a lasting reality.