With Ayan’s death, the total Milestone crash death toll has risen to 34, while at least 46 injured victims are still under treatment in different hospitals.
As of last evening, the official death toll was 33. With Ayan’s death, it stands at 34. The health ministry on Sunday revised the official casualty figures after receiving DNA test results, an official confirmed to TIMES.
Ayan succumbed to his injuries at 1:45am on Sunday while undergoing treatment at the ICU of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
The institute’s residential surgeon, Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, confirmed the death, saying Ayan had suffered burns on 40 per cent of his body, including severe damage to his airways. He had been on life support before passing away.
“With Ayan’s death, the death toll at our institute has risen to 18. Currently, 33 patients are admitted here, of whom three are still in critical condition at the ICU,” he added.
Ayan’s uncle, Dr Mostafa Kamal Arefin, said the teenager was a seventh-grade student of the English version section at Milestone School and College. His father, Mohammad Ali Masud, lives with the family in Mirpur’s middle Monipur area.
Across various hospitals, the total death toll from the tragedy now stands at 34, while 46 others are still undergoing treatment.
Background of the F-7 crash tragedy
The deadly crash occurred on July 22 when an F-7 fighter trainer aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force lost control during a routine training session and plummeted onto the playground of Milestone School and College in Uttara. The aircraft burst into flames on impact, engulfing several classrooms and injuring dozens of students who were attending their morning classes. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by scenes of chaos as teachers and local residents rushed to rescue students trapped inside burning rooms.
Initial reports confirmed that at least 19 people, including the pilot, were killed, while over 60 others suffered severe burn injuries. Emergency services, including firefighters, police, and military personnel, were deployed immediately to control the fire and evacuate the injured. The government formed a high-level probe committee to investigate the cause of the crash, which has since been attributed to a sudden technical malfunction.
The incident, one of the worst aviation-related tragedies in the country’s history, has sparked widespread criticism over the use of military training flights near densely populated civilian areas. Families of the victims have demanded accountability and stronger safety measures to prevent such disasters.