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Firemen check the wreckage of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Alamy Stock Photo

At least 20 killed and 170 injured after a Bangladeshi air force jet crashed into a school

Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash.

A BANGLADESH FIGHTER jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka today, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 170 in the country’s deadliest aviation accident in decades.

Many of the victims were young students who had just been let out of class when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College.

An AFP photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while army personnel helped clear the mangled wreckage.

A military statement said 20 people were killed, including the pilot, and 171 others injured when the jet crashed following a mechanical failure.

An 18-year-old student, Shafiur Rahman Shafi, said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake.

“There were two fighter planes… Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground),” he told AFP.

“It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later,” he told AFP.

The well-known private school offers education to children from kindergarten through to senior secondary.

Most of the injured were aged between eight and 14, said Mohammad Maruf Islam, joint director of Dhaka’s National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute where many victims were treated.

Grieving relatives of the victims thronged the hospital, while dozens of volunteers lined up ready to donate blood.

Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed.

“We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals,” Hossain told AFP.

“He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body.”

‘Deep grief and sorrow’ 

The military said the pilot was on a routine training mission when the jet “reportedly encountered a mechanical failure”.

“The exact cause remains under investigation,” it said in a statement.

The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, “despite his best efforts”, crashed into the two-storey school building, the military added.

The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday.

Yunus expressed “deep grief and sorrow” over the incident in a post on X.

“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” he said.

“This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”

The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades.

The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board.

Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighbouring India, killing 260 people.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives” in Dhaka.

Relations between the neighbours have been strained since protesters in Bangladesh last year ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, an old ally of New Delhi.

“India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance,” Modi wrote on X.

- © AFP 2025

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:08 AM

    Great decision from Kellie, too many boxers go on fighting long after they should have retired

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:13 AM

    @John K: Exactly. Go while on top, Kellie.

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    Mute Colette Byrne
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:13 AM

    She is truly an inspiration, and a great role model for boxing.
    And the inner city, mc gregor could take a leaf out of her book. Be humble.

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    Mute deadslys
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    Aug 7th 2024, 12:15 PM

    @Andrew Clavin: Bet you’re fun at parties…

    31
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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 2:50 PM

    @Colette Byrne: McGregor is a global superstar, Harrington is an amateur in women’s boxing, which very few people are interested in

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    Mute Tom L
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    Aug 7th 2024, 3:03 PM

    @Golf Ball: McGregor turned into a roided up jackass when he stopped being a fighter c.2017. The Alverez fight was the last time anyone seen the real McGregor. Global superstar lol not even close, washed up superstar is more apt

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 3:07 PM

    @Tom L: huge comeback about to happen

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    Mute Seanie
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    Aug 7th 2024, 3:39 PM

    @Golf Ball: Conor Mctapout

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:18 AM

    Zidane stopped after victory for the same reasons. She has nothing to prove to anyone. Fantastic fight.

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    Mute John K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:34 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: Zidane might have suffered more head injury in his last fight

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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:30 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: ??? He lost his last game in the WC final and was sent off. He had already decided to retire well before the game

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    Mute John K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:35 AM

    @Mick Duvanny: it’s a joke…Zidane won his last fight, headbutting matterazi.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:04 AM

    Kellie is our golden girl!

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    Mute Sean Sean
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:21 AM

    Time to name Diamond Park, Páirc Kellie Harrington. Comhghairdeas ó chroí.

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    Mute Lulu
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:54 AM

    @Sean Sean: Don’t be ridiculous.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:32 AM

    @Sean Sean: they should rename croke Park to kellie park

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    Mute Leonard Barry
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    Aug 7th 2024, 12:15 PM

    @Sean Money: Perhaps they should also rename the Aviva Stadium to her name and as we’re at it have an annual public holiday to honour her, would be no harm either to rename Dublin Airport the Kellie Harrington Airport, won’t be long now before someone will be calling for her to be president of the state.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:07 PM

    @Leonard Barry: a bit much perhaps. Croke Park is in her area so makes sense to change the name to honour her.

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:36 PM

    @Sean Sean: name a public toilet after her and leave it at that

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:59 PM

    @Golf Ball: poor kellie would be shitted on

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    Mute Máire K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:18 PM

    Take time off Kellie & be with your family. You have done it all, retire now and spend your time promoting the sport you love and know you are a champion in every Irish heart.

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:16 AM

    Chinese boxer was robbed of the gold medal

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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:21 AM

    @Golf Ball: Nonsense.

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    Mute donal O'brien
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:53 AM

    @James T.Kirk: the dipschits ate out in force. Sad

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    Mute furry01
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    Aug 7th 2024, 12:47 PM

    @Golf Ball: Probably robbed of the silver anyway, with all those Dubs around in the stadium

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    Mute Tezmond McVicar
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:47 PM

    @Golf Ball: Poor attempt at trolling there. Must do better.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:59 PM

    Well done Kellie, you done yourself, your family and your country so proud.

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