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A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 jet crashed into Milestone School in Dhaka’s Uttara area on 21 July, killing 27 people, including the pilot, students and staff (on the ground), apart from injuring 171 others. The military cited a “technical malfunction” for the crash and has launched a formal investigation.
The F-7 fighter jet departed from Bangladesh Air Force Base A K Khandaker at 1:06 pm and crashed soon after, bursting into flames over Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area.
The military said the pilot tried to avoid densely populated areas before crashing into a two-storey building. A ‘technical malfunction’ is suspected; an Air Force panel will investigate the cause.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the Dhaka jet crash on X (formerly Twitter). He extended condolences and assured that India stands with Bangladesh, ready to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.
The F-7 BGI, a modernised Chinese variant of the Soviet MiG-21, remains central to Bangladesh’s air fleet despite being outdated. It’s used mainly for training and light combat due to its low cost and reliability.
Although China ended production of the J-7 (exported as F-7) in 2013, Bangladesh received the final batch. Several countries, including China’s own People’s Liberation Army Air Force, still use it as an interceptor.
Since 1992, the Bangladesh Air Force has reported 27 crashes involving fighter jets and training aircraft, according to the Dhaka Tribune—highlighting long-standing concerns over aircraft safety and operational protocols.
Military data shows that in the past 20 years, Bangladesh recorded 11 military aircraft crashes—7 involved Chinese-made jets, 3 were Russian, and 1 was Czech-made. The pattern has raised concerns about the safety of ageing foreign aircraft in active service.
“Chinese aircraft are one of the main reasons behind these repeated crashes, yet the Air Force continues to use them due to various constraints,” a former Bangladesh Air Force officer told the Dhaka Tribune, on condition of anonymity.
The crashed F-7 BGI was part of Bangladesh’s 40-strong fleet of Chinese-origin jets. Past incidents have also involved models like FT-7, PT-6, and F-7MB. Experts blame not just the jets, but also bird hits, human error, and maintenance gaps.