The plane hit the Haider Ali building of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area shortly after take-off on July 21, 2025.
The aircraft had taken off from Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at 1:06 pm for a routine training manoeuvre before crashing into the school building.
According to the official report, a suspected bird strike occurred shortly before the pilot changed altitude. Investigators believe the bird strike may have forced the pilot into a flight angle that stalled the aircraft’s engine too much.
The report also raised concerns over pilot supervision and training, pointing to gaps in operational oversight that may have contributed to the crash.
Beyond the aircraft’s operation, the investigation found that lack of infrastructure in the school worsened the impact of the disaster.
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Professor Adil Mohammed Khan told BBC Bangla that Milestone School and College had significant shortcomings in complying with building regulations.
The report cited findings by the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, which concluded that the Haider Ali building was unsafe. Although the building’s occupancy required three staircases under safety regulations, it had only one. Its corridors were also around two feet narrower than the minimum required width of four feet.
It also found that the school authorities were unable to produce documents proving the building had received official approval. Despite reportedly committing to demolish the Haider Ali building and obtain approvals for other unauthorised structures, the school continued to use them, reported Asia News Network.
The report also criticised the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Bangladesh’s capital development authority, for failing to act despite being aware of unauthorised construction at the school and the illegal use of some buildings as dormitories.
It also said Rajuk had failed to effectively regulate land use around the airport, attributing the lapses to abuse of power and the influence of vested interests.
Rajuk has since said it has ordered action over the irregularities at the school. The investigation recommended that the authority immediately remove all unauthorised structures, particularly those identified by civil aviation officials as posing risks to both commercial and military aviation safety.
