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Tragedy struck Bangladesh on Monday as a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft, an F-7 BGI, a variant of China's Chengdu family of planes, plunged into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka's Uttara area.
This older generation "Grandpa fighter jet", an advanced version of the J-7G, itself a Chinese-built variant of the Soviet MiG-21, turned a routine training mission into a catastrophic event, leaving at least 25 people dead and over 100 injured, mostly students. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, was among those killed.
The ill-fated F-7 BGI took off for its training flight around 1:06 pm. Just moments later, it crashed with a thunderous bang into a four-storey building of the school, which housed classes from one to seven. The impact immediately engulfed the building in flames, creating a scene of utter devastation.
Brigadier General Zahed Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed the grim toll, stating that rescuers had recovered bodies from the school compound, with operations still underway.
Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for the Health Ministry, reported that around 100 people were hospitalised with burns and other injuries, with doctors noting at least eight were in critical condition. Students comprised the majority of the wounded, receiving treatment at various facilities including the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS).
The F-7 BGI, designed specifically to meet the requirements of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), was part of a 2011 deal with China for 16 such aircraft, delivered in 2013, to modernise the nation's fleet. While China, which began manufacturing the J-7 in 1965, discontinued its production in 2013, it continued to export advanced versions abroad.
Despite debates over whether its production involved Russian assistance or reverse-engineering, the F-7 BGI is known for its "cost-effective, multi-purpose" capabilities. It features a KLJ-6F fire-control radar capable of detecting targets over 86 kilometres away, tracking six, and engaging two simultaneously. It's a full glass cockpit, with multi-function and heads-up displays, along with hands-on throttle-and-stick controls, designed to enhance pilot situational awareness. Primarily used as an interceptor aircraft, Bangladesh currently operates 37 of these jets, while Pakistan has a larger fleet of 120.
Bangladesh is shrouded in profound grief and solemnity as the interim government has declared a one-day state mourning for July 22, following a devastating Bangladesh Air Force jet crash. Across the nation and at all its missions abroad, the national flag will fly at half-mast, a sombre symbol of the shock and sorrow that has gripped the country.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed his profound sadness over the tragic loss of life caused by the accident. In a statement released shortly after the incident, he conveyed his deep condolences, stating, “I am deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the heartbreaking accident involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet at the Milestone School and College campus.” The gravity of the situation, impacting a civilian educational institution, has resonated deeply with the public and leadership alike.
The horrifying event unfolded around 1:15 pm when the military jet plummeted, striking the ground floor of a two-storey building within the Milestone School and College campus. Eyewitnesses describe a scene of unimaginable terror. Fahim Hossain, an eleventh-grade student, recounted the harrowing moments to The Daily Star, revealing just how close he was to the catastrophe. "It hit the ground floor of a two-storey building around 1:15 pm, where classes for the primary section were taking place,” Fahim stated, adding, “the jet crashed right in front of my eyes – just 10 feet ahead of me.” His chilling account paints a vivid picture of the sudden and devastating impact, particularly on an area where young primary school students were likely present.
As investigations into the cause of the crash commence, Bangladesh pauses to reflect on the lives lost and the trauma inflicted.
