The Chinese-built F-7 aircraft, used for pilot training, took off at 07:06 GMT (13:06 local time) and encountered a technical failure shortly after takeoff, according to a statement by the military on Facebook. The jet was being flown by Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, who is among the confirmed fatalities.

Dramatic footage taken near Milestone School and College, the site of the crash, showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the two-story building. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by panic among students and nearby residents.

According to medical officials at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, over 50 of the injured, including children and elderly residents, were hospitalized with burn injuries and trauma caused by the crash and ensuing fire.

Military authorities said the pilot attempted to direct the aircraft away from populated zones upon detecting the malfunction, but he was still within the city and could not avoid hitting the school premises.

Emergency rescue teams rushed to the scene, pulling victims from the rubble. Several people remain unaccounted for, and search operations are ongoing. A high-level investigation team has been established to determine the cause of the crash.

Photos from the scene show rescue workers navigating through smoldering debris, while anxious crowds watched from rooftops of nearby buildings.

Speaking shortly after the crash, Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, described the event as “a national tragedy”. He added: “All necessary steps will be taken to investigate this incident thoroughly and to support the affected families. I urge all medical facilities to treat this as an emergency of national concern.”

The government has declared Tuesday, July 22, as a day of national mourning, ordering flags to be flown at half-mast across the country.