AT least 19 people were killed and 164 injured as a Bangladesh air force training jet crashed into a college and school campus in the capital Dhaka on Monday after experiencing a technical problem shortly after take-off, a military spokesperson said.
Reuters reported the F-7 BGI jet took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola, Dhaka, as part of a routine training mission, but encountered a mechanical failure, said the spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury.
"The pilot ... made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft ... crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College," he said.
The pilot was among those killed in the incident, the military said, adding that a committee had been formed to investigate its cause.
The F-7 BGI is the final and most advanced variant in China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane’s Information Group. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013.
The Chengdu F-7 is the licence-built version of the Soviet MiG-21.
Videos of the aftermath of the crash showed a big fire near a lawn emitting a thick plume of smoke into the sky, as crowds watched from a distance.
Firefighters sprayed water on the mangled remains of the plane, which appeared to have rammed into the side of a building, damaging iron grills and creating a gaping hole in the structure, footage filmed by Reuters showed.
"A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital," said Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where some victims were taken.
Images from the scene also showed people screaming and crying as others tried to comfort them.
"When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind ... I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke," said Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school.
The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in neighbouring India's Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.
World Leaders Mourn Victims of Bangladesh Military Jet Crash
Following the tragedy, world leaders on Monday expressed deep sorrow and shock following the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force jet in the capital, which claimed the lives of at least 20 people, including schoolchildren, and injured more than 170 others.
Bernama reported that India, Pakistan and the Maldives were among the nations that extended condolences to Bangladesh in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
The Developing-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8), of which Bangladesh is a member, also conveyed its sympathies and stood in solidarity with the country.
“We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Bangladesh during this difficult time and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by this heartbreaking incident. We also wish a speedy and full recovery to those injured,” said the Istanbul-based organisation in a statement.
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet, operated by the Bangladesh Air Force, crashed into Milestone School and College in the Uttara district of Dhaka.
Among those killed was the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam.
According to a statement by the military, the crash was caused by mechanical failure just minutes after the aircraft took off from the Bangladesh Air Force base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at 1.06pm local time for a routine training flight.
“Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. We pray for the swift recovery of the injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to offer any form of assistance and support,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X. - July 22, 2025
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