Dhaka: A tragic incident unfolded in Dhaka on Monday, July 21, 2025, as a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI training aircraft plummeted into the campus of Milestone School and College. The devastating crash resulted in at least 19 fatalities, including the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, and numerous students, with over 100 individuals sustaining injuries, many with severe burns. The jet, on a routine training mission, experienced a "technical malfunction" shortly after takeoff, with the pilot reportedly making a valiant effort to steer it away from densely populated areas before impact.

The F-7, known as the J-7 in China, is a direct descendant of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. While the technology transfer occurred in 1962, Chinese engineers had to extensively reverse-engineer the design due to incomplete documentation. They implemented significant modifications, addressing critical flaws of the original MiG-21, such as problematic hydraulic systems and unstable fuel tank placement. The F-7 BGI, specifically developed by China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation for the BAF and entering service in 2013, is considered the "most advanced F-7," boasting a fully digital glass cockpit and advanced radar, making it "4th generation capable" on a "3rd generation airframe."

Despite these upgrades, the F-7 BGI inherits some fundamental limitations. The MiG-21 itself is notoriously known as the "Flying Coffin" due to its high accident rate and inherent design challenges. The F-7, while improved, is still "associated with a higher accident rate compared to newer jets" due to its older airframe design and "narrow safety margins." It also demands "high pilot skill," especially during training. Operating these ageing F-7s presents ongoing maintenance challenges for the BAF, compounded by reported issues with a "lack of after-sales service" and poor maintenance support from Chinese original equipment manufacturers.

The Bangladesh military has launched a high-level investigation into the crash.