Bangladesh: 19 killed, 164 injured as Air Force jet crashes into college in Dhaka
The F-7 BGI jet took off from the Kurmitola airbase at 1.06 pm local time as part of a routine training mission, but encountered a technical failure minutes later, military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury was quoted as saying by the agency.
The crash occurred at Milestone School and College in Dhaka's northern Uttara area.
'The pilot… made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas,' Reuters quoted Chowdhury as saying. 'Despite his best efforts, the aircraft ... crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College.'
The pilot of the aircraft was among those who died.
The military has formed a committee to investigate the crash.
Footage from the scene showed a large fire breaking out near a lawn, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. Following the crash, members of the Bangladesh Army and eight units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the site and began rescue operations, The Daily Star reported.
A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 164, according to the military. pic.twitter.com/PTrXhncWpp
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 21, 2025
The F-7 BGI is the most advanced variant of China's Chengdu J-7, which is a licensed version of the Soviet MiG-21. Bangladesh acquired 16 of these aircraft under a contract signed in 2011, with deliveries completed by 2013, Reuters reported.
Muhammad Yunus, the head of the country's interim government, expressed condolences to the kin of those who died, and called the crash ' a moment of deep pain for the nation'.
He promised a full investigation into the accident and added that the government will 'ensure all kinds of assistance'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
From war horse to ‘flying coffins': India's MiG-21s that helped liberate Bangladesh set for final flight
From war horse to 'flying coffins': India's MiG-21s that helped liberate Bangladesh set for final flight Team TOI Plus Jul 25, 2025, 07:43 IST IST A ceremonial farewell for these iconic jets, which took part in all major conflicts but later gained notoriety for a high crash rate, is scheduled for September 19 in Chandigarh The Indian Air Force's (IAF) first truly supersonic fighters — the Soviet-era MiG-21s, later manufactured in India — will take to the skies for the final time this September, marking the end of over six decades of service. Only two MiG-21 ' Bison ' squadrons remain in operation, comprising 36 aircraft based at the Nal airbase in Rajasthan. A ceremonial farewell for these iconic delta-wing jets, which took part in all major conflicts but later gained notoriety for a high crash rate, is scheduled for September 19 in Chandigarh.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
49 people killed in Russia plane crash
Moscow: A Russian passenger aircraft carrying 49 people crashed on Monday in the country's Far Eastern region near the border with China, killing everyone on board. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft midway through its flight, and minutes later, rescuers located parts of the burning fuselage. Preliminary analysis suggests that pilot error during landing in poor visibility may have caused the crash in the town of Tynda in the Amur region. The local emergencies ministry said the Antonov An-24 aircraft, operated by the Siberia-based Angara airline, vanished from radar while attempting a second landing after an initial approach to Tynda airport was unsuccessful. The aircraft was from the Soviet era and was nearly 50 years old, and its tail number showed it was built in 1976.
India Today
7 hours ago
- India Today
End of an Era: MiG-21 to retire after over 60 years of service
India's first supersonic fighter jet, the MiG-21, is set to take its final flight in September 2025—ending an unmatched six-decade journey in the Indian Air Force. Often dubbed the 'flying coffin' due to its high crash record, the MiG-21 is still remembered as a symbol of power, valour, and diplomacy. It helped shape Indo-Russian defence ties and played a key role in historic missions, especially in the 1971 war against Pakistan. Defence expert Sandeep Unnithan explains how this jet—once cutting-edge and always fearless—transformed India's air defence history. #MiG21 #Supersonic #FighterJet #IndianAirForce #IAF #IndiaNews
