Dhaka jet crash: Who was the pilot of Bangladesh Air Force's F-7 aircraft?

Flight lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, a Bangladesh Air Force pilot, crashed an F-7 aircraft into Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara.

Updated on: Jul 21, 2025, 17:42:06 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Bangladesh Air Force pilot who was flying the F-7 aircraft that crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara on Monday has been identified as flight lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the local media reported.

Flight lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar of the Bangladesh Air Force.

Towkir Islam Sagar, of the 35 squadron, 76 BAFA course, died while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), The Daily Star quoted , citing ISPR.

Also Follow | Bangladesh Air Force jet crash live updates

According to the report, Sagar completed his first 100 hours of flight training during his cadet years in PT-6 aircraft.

He later served with the 15th Squadron, where he logged approximately 60 hours of flight time, before joining the 35th Squadron.

The training aircraft crashed into a school campus in the capital, Dhaka, shortly after takeoff on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring 164 others, the military said.

According to the military and a fire official, the Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, in the Uttara neighbourhood, in the afternoon as students were attending classes.

Also Read | 19 killed, over 100 injured as Bangladesh Air Force F-7 jet crashes into Dhaka's Milestone College campus: Report

The military said the jet took off at 1:06 pm local time and crashed soon after, catching fire immediately. The cause was not immediately clear.

It is the deadliest airplane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory.

Local media indicated most of the injured were students. Relatives panicked at the scene as rescuers, using tricycle rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured to local hospitals.

Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, told news agency The Associated Press by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary to twelfth grade.

“I was terrified watching videos on TV,” the 16-year-old said. “My God! It’s my school.”

(With inputs from agencies)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.