A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed on Monday, July 21, in the premises of a college and school in the capital Dhaka, resulting in the death of 19 people and injuring 164, according to military spokespersons. This includes 16 students, two teachers, and one pilot.
The F-7 BGI jet took off at 1:06 PM (0706 GMT) from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola, Dhaka, for a routine training mission. However, it experienced a mechanical failure, said spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Daula Chowdhury.
"The pilot made a daring attempt to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the plane crashed into the two-story building of Milestone School and College," they said. The army stated that the pilot was among those who perished in the incident. They also mentioned that a committee has been established to investigate the cause of the incident.
According to Jane's Information Group, the F-7 BGI is the final and most advanced variant of China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011, and delivery was completed by 2013. The Chengdu F-7 is a licensed version of the Soviet MiG-21.