In a devastating incident on July 21, 2025, at 11:18 am, a Bangladesh Air Force plane crashed into a school building, resulting in at least 19 fatalities. This crash coincides with a period of time when Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is acting as Bangladesh’s interim prime minister. The plane crashed into the side of the building, producing a fireball the size of a city block. Black, acrid smoke rolled into the sky.
Emergency services arrived on the scene as quickly as possible, with firefighters dousing the wreckage of the jet with water to put the flames out. The National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery announced that at least 50 people have been admitted to hospitals with serious burn injuries from the explosion. This impacts equally children and adults.
Masud Tarik, who happened to be at the school to pick up his children, described what he saw.
“When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind,” – Masud Tarik
He further stated that after turning around, he was confronted with a result of disorder.
“When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke.” – Masud Tarik
Founder Muhammad Yunus said he was “extremely sorry” about the tragedy, saying the lost lives were “irreparable.” He recognized the deep impact on the victims’ families and the overall community.
“The loss suffered by the air force … students, parents, teachers and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable,” – Muhammad Yunus
In the wake of the disaster, Transportation Secretary Yiannas pledged to conduct a robust investigation to find out what caused the crash. Beyond that, he rightly pledged to provide assistance to victims and their families as they cope with this painful aftermath.
Residents and local leaders are understandably outraged by the incident. Above all, it shows that more robust safety standards are needed to protect civilian communities near military activities. Though investigations are ongoing, many are awaiting answers as to how such a tragic event was even possible amid the densely populated urban area.
