According to the official investigation report submitted to Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed at Milestone School & College last July, killing more than 30 people, due to the pilot’s operational error.
“The investigation committee has concluded that the pilot’s operational error caused the loss of control of the aircraft. The committee has also recommended shifting all initial Air Force training out of Dhaka in view of public safety,” CA Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy today (November 5).
“The situation went beyond his (pilot’s) control,” Shafiqul said, quoting from the summary of the report.
At the beginning of the day, the head of the investigation committee Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Armed Forces Division, officially handed over the report at the official residence of CA Professor Muhammad Yunus at ‘Jamuna’.
Press Secretary said, the committee formed on July 29 has collected 168 pieces of information besides interviewing 150 people — experts, eyewitnesses, and the victim’s family.
Building without RAJUK approval, a lack of security measures
Investigation revealed that the building of Milestone School was not constructed as per RAJUK’s Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC).
Shafiqul said the building had only 1 staircase instead of 3.
The committee commented that the casualty has increased significantly due to a lack of a proper fire exit and escape route.
The report expressed concern about uncontrolled construction in the newly expanded area of RAJUK — Savar, Kanchan, Tarabo municipality — where the local authorities themselves are giving approval.
“RAJUK follows the building code, but many new municipal authorities grant permission without maintaining the same standards. RAJUK’s regulation has been directed to apply uniformly in all areas,” said Shafiqul.
Aviation and emergency response recommendations have made 33 recommendations to the government.
The report highlights various topics related to aviation safety. It is said that the Air Force has an aircraft shortage and all fire stations of airports should have a foam tender for aviation fire control.
It is recommended to reduce the pressure of air traffic in Dhaka by taking training flights by upgrading and expanding Barishal and Bogura airstrips.
It has been said to strictly enforce the height restriction in the take-off and landing funnel zone of the airport and prohibit the construction of schools, hospitals, warehouses, and small industries.
Nationwide airstrip maintenance has also been emphasized.
Instructions on security implementation
Based on the investigation, the CA has directed the Air Force, RAJUK, and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to implement the recommendation quickly.
He said that aviation training safety and urban planning enforcement should be strengthened to avoid such incidents in the future.
“This is a sad lesson for all of us,” said Shafiqul.
“Government is taking the results of the investigation seriously. All recommendations will be implemented to prevent such accidents in the future,” he added.
Description of incident
An Air Force fighter jet crashed at Milestone School & College in Dhaka’s Uttara area at 1 PM on 21 July. 36 people were killed in this — 28 students, 3 teachers, 3 parents, 1 staff, and a pilot.
Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, who was on the first solo flight, ejected with a parachute but died later.
The incident caused public outrage over the densely populated Dhaka military training flight. Planners and aviation experts said that, due to poor regulation and weak urban management, building construction is the major cause of loss of life in risky air corridors.
