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DW
22-07-2025
- General
- DW
Bangladesh jet crash renews debate on training over cities – DW – 07/22/2025
A deadly Air Force training jet crash in Bangladesh has drawn calls for accountability, and to relocate bases and training from densely populated areas. Bangladesh observed a day of mourning on Tuesday, with flags flying at half-mast and special prayers held at places of worship, a day after the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. At least 31 people were killed, and more than 170 injured, on Monday when a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed into the campus of the Milestone School and College in Dhaka shortly after taking off from Kurmitola airbase. "Those dead included 25 children, a teacher, and the pilot," Sayedur Rahman, a Health Ministry spokesman, told reporters in Dhaka on Tuesday. He said that at least 88 people were hospitalized with burn injuries. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, pledged an investigation, expressing his deep sorrow over the "heartbreaking accident." The F-7 BGI is an advanced variant of a Chinese-designed Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013. Monday's incident marks the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades, authorities said. However, observers noted that several accidents have occurred in the past involving the aircraft family. In April 2008, another F-7 training fighter jet crashed into a village in Tangail, 83 kilometres (56 miles) northwest of Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. In June 2015, an F-7 MB fighter jet crashed off the coast of the Bay of Bengal near the port city of Chattogram. The pilot went missing after the crash. In November 2018, an F-7 BG crashed during a training session in Tangail, killing the pilot. The aircraft had taken off from Dhaka and crashed just 25 minutes into the flight, catching fire upon impact with the ground. Zulkarnain Saer Khan, an investigative journalist based in London, believes that despite those accidents, the BAF continues to use the F-7 due to "economic necessity, established infrastructure, and slow procurement of modern aircraft." "While plans to acquire Eurofighter or JF-17 jets show progress, Bangladesh's limited budget and complex procurement process delay the phase-out of the F-7," he told DW. "Rigorous maintenance and expedited modernization are critical to reducing risks, but these face significant economic and logistical challenges." Immediately after Monday's incident, many people took to social media to renew calls for relocating military bases from Dhaka to elsewhere. Bangladesh's capital is considered one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world, with over 22 million people living in an area of approximately 300 square kilometers (116 square miles). A large part of the capital is occupied by a military garrison that many believe should be moved elsewhere due to safety reasons. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dhaka-based lawyer Sara Hossain pointed out that while other cantonments are located outside main cities, Dhaka has a cantonment situated deep within the megacity. "It's a restricted area where ordinary people can't enter, which is more problematic. Why should there be two classes of people, with one having access to the cantonment and others not? Roads are shut for others. I don't see any logic behind it." Zyma Islam, a local journalist in Dhaka, has cast doubt on the military's claim that "mechanical failure" was to blame for the crash. "We do know the army was conducting military jet fighter training in heavily populated civilian areas," the senior reporter from the Daily Star told DW. She questioned "whether or not we should be conducting military training in a very densely populated city like Dhaka." Islam added that the crash affected a primary school. "There is this deep sense of shock and devastation and anger," she said. "It's not OK for parents to send their children to school and have them turn up in body bags." BAF's base in Dhaka has been using the runway of the country's main civilian airport for its training purposes for decades. Observers say the shared runway's approach path, known as the "final" in aviation terms, extends 6-8 nautical miles and passes over densely populated areas, such as Uttara, where the school was located just 1.9 nautical miles (3.5 kilometers) from the runway's touchdown point. Sara Hossain thinks that in light of Monday's incident, the government should issue an administrative order to ban Air Force training flights over populated areas. "The crash was unwanted and avoidable. Administrative orders should be issued immediately to stop repetition of such incidents in the future," Hossain told DW. "The military and air force have many open areas where such training can take place. There is no need to conduct such training in populated areas." "There should be an investigation to find out who made the calls to conduct training in these areas and whether a risk assessment was done beforehand. Those responsible should be held accountable," she added. However, investigative journalist Khan believes that BAF is not ''intentionally conducting'' training over populated areas, and the problem lies with ''poor urban planning.'' "The real issue lies in poor urban planning and lax zoning regulations that allowed a school to be built in such a high-risk aviation zone," Khan told DW. Authorities like the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and local government "must be held accountable for permitting settlements near the runway's approach path, a necessity for both military and civilian aviation," he said. "Public focus should shift to demanding stricter zoning laws and better urban planning to prevent further encroachment, as relocating the runway is infeasible due to cost and land limitations," Khan added. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
India.com
22-07-2025
- General
- India.com
How powerful is F-7 fighter jet that crashed In Dhaka? This China-made plane is capable of hitting 2,175 Km/h with missile, can target....
How powerful is F-7 fighter jet that Crashed In Dhaka? This China-made plane is capable of hitting 2,175 Km/h With Missile, can target.... A heartbreaking incident took place in Bangladesh on Monday when a fighter jet crashed into Milestone School and College in the Uttara area of Dhaka. The crash reportedly killed 19 people. In a statement, the Public Relations Office of the Bangladesh Armed Forces confirmed that the jet involved was an F-7 BGI, a fighter aircraft used by the Bangladesh Air Force. What is the F-7 BGI? The F-7 BGI is a fighter jet that China specially made for Bangladesh. It replaced the older models in the Bangladesh Air Force, like the F-7M and F-7MB. Apart from Bangladesh, other countries such as Myanmar, Nigeria, Iran, Egypt, Zambia, and Sudan also use this aircraft. This jet is actually an improved version of the Chinese J-7, which was based on an old Soviet design called the MiG-21. Though the design is old, the F-7 BGI was upgraded with modern technology. Key features of F-7 BGI The F-7 BGI has a modern cockpit with digital screens instead of old-style meters. It also has an advanced flight control system and a special helmet that shows useful information to the pilot during missions. This jet can carry air-to-air missiles like the PL-9C and can also do light attacks on ground targets. It can fly very fast i.e. up to 2,175 km per hour and reach a height of 17,500 meters in the sky. Limitations of F-7 BGI The F-7 BGI was mainly designed for fast, high-altitude flights especially to intercept enemy aircraft. But because of its design, especially the smaller wings, it can be harder to handle during take-off and landing compared to planes with larger wings. The last of these jets was built in 2013. Experts say that while it was made for speed, its older design might make it more difficult to operate safely in some situations. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash. As of early 2025, Bangladesh had 87 combat-capable aircraft, including several variants of the F-7 fighters, according to the U.K.-based defense think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
India.com
21-07-2025
- General
- India.com
How Dangerous Is the F-7 That Crashed In Bangladesh? China-Made Jet Hits 2,175 Km/h With Missile Capabilities
photoDetails english 2934873 A tragic incident unfolded in Bangladesh on Monday after a fighter jet crashed into the premises of Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara area. The incident resulted in the deaths of 19 people reportadely. According to an initial statement from the Public Relations Office of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the aircraft involved in the crash was an F-7 BGI jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force. Updated:Jul 21, 2025, 06:19 PM IST China Built F-7 1 / 5 According to the media reports, China developed the F-7 BGI fighter jet specifically for the Bangladesh Air Force. Which Countries Operate the F-7 BGI? 2 / 5 When Bangladesh purchased the F-7 BGI from China, it replaced the older F-7M and F-7MB fighter jets in its air force. Besides Bangladesh, countries like Myanmar, Nigeria, Iran, Egypt, Zambia, and Sudan also operate the F-7 BGI. 3 / 5 Features of the F-7 BGI 4 / 5 The F-7 BGI fighter jet is equipped with a digital glass cockpit, featuring a multi-function display, a digital flight control system and a helmet-mounted display (HMD) for enhanced pilot capabilities. Air-to-Air Combat Capability And Speed 5 / 5 This Bangladeshi fighter jet can be equipped with air-to-air missiles like the PL-9C and also possesses limited air-to-ground strike capabilities. F-7 can reach a top speed of 2,175 kilometers per hour and fly at altitudes up to 17,500 meters.
