On 21 July 2025, F-7 BGI training of Bangladesh Air Force crashed in the Milestone School and College campus in the Uttara area of Jet Dhaka, killing at least 16 people and injured more than 100. Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, called it “irreparable loss” and “moment of deep sorrow for the nation”. He wrote on X, “I express deep grief and condolences on the deaths of Bangladesh Air Force’s F-7 BGI training aircraft in the Diabari area of Dhaka and the deaths due to crash in the Milestone School and College campus. The damage of Air Force, students, parents, teachers and staff is irreparable.”
The accident occurred at 1:06 pm when Chinese-made F-7 BGI jet fell on the roof of the school canteen after a few minutes of flying, causing fierce fire and smoke. The dead included 16 students, two teachers and pilot flights Lieutenant Taukir Islam Sagar. More than 83 injured people are in various hospitals in Dhaka, such as Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Dhaka Medical College. The Bangladesh Army and eight fire service units immediately started rescue operations, in which the injured students were taken to the hospital with rickshaws and other means.
Yunus promised “necessary steps” for investigation and “all possible help” for the injured. He directed the hospitals to give priority to the treatment of the injured and if necessary, asked to bring a doctor from abroad. Bangladesh declared one day national mourning on 22 July. Prothom Aloe said that at the time of the accident, students were taking the exam or were in classes.
The accident is the second major incident of Bangladesh Air Force after the Yak-130 Jet accident in May 2024. Questions are being raised on the safety and reliability of F-7 BGI, which is an advanced version of Soviet MiG-21. The incident is under the link of recent aerial accidents, such as Air India aircraft accident in Ahmedabad in June 2025. The investigation has begun, and the initial conclusions are expected to come soon.
