Tragedy in the sky, failure on the ground

On July 21, 2025, a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka.

In seconds, a place of learning became a mass casualty site. Thirty-one people died—most of them children. More than 160 were injured. The pilot also perished. Families have been devastated. And yet, if history is any guide, accountability may be the first casualty.

Let us be clear: this was not an unavoidable tragedy. It was a foreseeable and preventable failure of risk governance. We often call such events "acts of God," but there was nothing divine about a jet falling from the sky onto a school.

Military training flights over Dhaka are not a new phenomenon. But conducting them above one of the world's most densely populated cities—with thousands of schools, markets, and hospitals—is dangerous and unjustifiable. The F-7 BGI aircraft involved had reportedly developed a technical fault. The pilot attempted a final emergency manoeuvre before ejecting, but the plane crashed into a school that had no fire safety systems, no evacuation plan, and no preparedness for aerial threats.

Among the dead was Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher who ran toward danger to save her students. She died from 100% burns. These were not military targets. They were civilian children, teachers, and staff. And we failed them.

After the crash, we saw chaos and a lack of coordination. What followed was not an emergency response, but chaos. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Crowds rushed in. Journalists and citizens alike filmed the burn victims. Misinformation, fake news, and insensitive narratives spread unchecked across social media. Politicians posed for cameras. There was a desperate scramble for ambulances, blood, and medical supplies. If this was the situation in the capital city, what hope is there for the rest of the country?

At the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, doctors worked valiantly but were hamstrung by a lack of beds, insufficient isolation space, and unauthorised visitors. Journalists stepped over gurneys. VIPs blocked corridors. This was a breakdown not just in aviation safety, but in public health, crisis response, and basic order.

Taking all matters into consideration, we could consider Five Urgent Reforms and action.

1. Reconsider training flights over cities.
2. Move training operations away from densely populated areas. Shift them to bases in less crowded regions, such as Rajshahi or Barisal. Declare no-fly zones over schools, hospitals, and public infrastructure.
3. Prepare schools for disaster.
4. Every school must have a disaster preparedness plan, including evacuation drills, fire suppression tools, trauma kits, trained staff, and a water reservoir.  In the past, many organisations collectively arranged fire safety drills, emergency evacuation and emergency response trainings in schools. Such practices and trainings should be reintroduced immediately with seriousness. Preparedness should be part of national education policy, monitored annually.
5. Establish an air crash emergency protocol.
6. Bangladesh needs a joint civil-military protocol for air crashes. This includes triage teams, hospital alerts, media control, and crowd management. A rapid response command unit should lead the way.
7. Ensure independent investigation
8. The Air Force cannot investigate itself. An impartial, civilian-led panel must examine what happened. Its findings should be made public, and its recommendations should be enforced.
9. Support victims and survivors
10. Provide survivors with long-term medical care, trauma counselling, and compensation. Establish a public fund to ensure aid reaches families directly—not through bureaucratic delays.

Are We Willing to Change?

What kind of country allows military jets to fly over classrooms?

What kind of state allows hospitals to be overrun by cameras instead of caregivers?

What kind of society mourns for a week and forgets in a month?

If we can't protect children from the sky falling on their heads, then we must stop pretending this is acceptable. Bangladesh has the tools to prevent disasters. What's missing is urgency, political will, and accountability.

Preparedness is not a luxury. It is justice.

Let this moment not pass as another tragedy. Let it be a turning point.

Farah Kabir is the Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.