DHAKA, Bangladesh (Diya TV) — A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school and college building in Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring 164 others. The incident took place shortly after the jet took off for a routine training mission. Authorities confirmed that the pilot was among the dead.
The aircraft, a Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet, departed from the Kurmitola Air Force Base at 1:06 p.m. local time. Within minutes, it encountered a technical malfunction. Despite the pilot’s efforts to steer the jet away from residential areas, it slammed into a two-storey building on the campus of Milestone School and College in the Uttara area of Dhaka.
Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury said the pilot made a “valiant attempt” to avoid casualties on the ground. “Despite his best efforts, the aircraft crashed into the school building,” he stated. Emergency responders rushed to the scene within minutes. Firefighters fought the flames as thick black smoke billowed from the crash site. Rescue workers recovered bodies and helped evacuate the wounded. Video footage from the scene showed destroyed classrooms, mangled iron bars, and a large hole torn through the side of the building.
At Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, doctors worked around the clock. “A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others—aged 12, 14, and 40—are under treatment,” said Dr. Bidhan Sarker, head of the hospital’s burn unit. Survivors and witnesses described a chaotic scene. “When I was picking up my kids and went to the gate, I heard an explosion,” said Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school. “When I looked back, I saw fire and smoke everywhere.”
The military has launched a high-level investigation to determine what caused the crash. Officials have formed a committee to examine both the aircraft’s mechanical systems and the flight operation process. The F-7 BGI is an advanced model in the Chinese-built Chengdu J-7 series, itself based on the Soviet MiG-21. Bangladesh signed a deal for 16 of the jets in 2011 and received the full fleet by 2013.
While the exact cause is still unknown, mechanical failure appears to be the main factor. Aviation experts note that the F-7 platform, though widely used in Asia and Africa, is known for its aging technology.
This crash raises fresh questions about the safety of older military aircraft still in use by many countries. Critics have long pointed to the limited upgrade options and questionable durability of China-made jets like the F-7. Some analysts have questioned whether the aircraft’s condition or pilot training played a bigger role. While no official blame has been assigned, concerns remain over the reliability of the fleet. The Bangladeshi Air Force has yet to comment on whether any of the remaining jets will be grounded.
This incident comes just weeks after a deadly crash in neighboring India. An Air India jet went down on a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad last month, killing 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. That accident marked one of the worst aviation disasters in a decade. Now, with back-to-back tragedies in South Asia, aviation safety has become a pressing issue. Government officials across the region are facing growing pressure to reevaluate both civilian and military air operations.
The government of Bangladesh has declared a day of national mourning. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep sorrow and pledged full support to the families of the victims. “This is a dark day for our nation,” she said. Public anger is growing, especially among parents whose children attended Milestone School and College.
