Latest news with #F-7BG
News18
7 days ago
- General
- News18
Are Chinese Jets Behind Aviation Disasters In Bangladesh? A Look At BAF Crashes In Last 30 Years
A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into a school on Monday, killing 25 people in one of the country's worst aviation disasters in decades. News18 Bangladesh witnessed one of its deadliest aviation disasters in recent history when a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into Milestone School & College in Dhaka's Uttara area on Monday, killing 25 people and injuring more than 170 others. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) attributed the crash to a 'mechanical failure" after take off, saying that the pilot made every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas in vain. A high-level investigation committee has been set up to probe the cause of the accident. Bangladesh Air Force has witnessed at least 27 fighter jet and aircraft crashes since 1992, which have contributed to growing concerns over flight safety. This crash is the deadliest so far. According to data, Chinese-manufactured aircraft have topped the list in terms of accidents. Dhaka Tribune. November 23, 2018: A Chinese F-7BG crashed in Madhupur, Tangail. Wing Commander Arif Ahmed Dipu died after ejecting. July 1, 2018: A Chinese-Pakistani K-8W trainer crashed near Jessore during night training. Two Squadron Leaders died in the crash. December 27, 2017: Two Russian Yak‑130 jets collided mid-air over Maheshkhali Island in Cox's Bazar. All four pilots ejected safely. July 11, 2017: Another Yak-130 crashed during a training exercise in Lohagara, Chattogram, but both pilots survived. June 29, 2015: A Chinese F‑7MB disappeared into the Bay of Bengal off Chattogram. Flight Lieutenant Tahmid went missing in the crash and was presumed dead. April 8, 2012: A Czechoslovakian Aero L‑39 trainer crashed in Madhupur, Tangail. Pilot Officer Shariful Haque died, while Squadron Leader Rashid was injured. December 20, 2010: Two Chinese PT‑6 training aircraft crashed near Barisal Airport and both squadron leaders died in the incident. April 8, 2008: A Chinese F‑7 crashed in Ghatail, Tangail, and Squadron Leader Morshed Hasan died after ejecting. Are Chinese Aircraft Behind These Crashes? Most of the aircraft involved in these crashes were FT-7, PT-6, and F-7MB models, which are primarily manufactured in China. A former Bangladesh Air Force officer told the Dhaka Tribune that Chinese aircraft are one of the main reasons behind these repeated crashes, yet they are still being used due to various constraints. The Bangladesh Air Force reportedly has around 40 Chinese F-7 fighters. The first batch was delivered around 1998. Even though Bangladesh is trying to procure aircraft from Russia and Europe, Chinese F-7 units continue to dominate the force's training units. The Chinese F-7 jet is the export version of its J-7 model, a lightweight and single-engine fighter jet based on the Soviet MiG-21. It was developed as early as 1961 after a technology transfer agreement between China and the Soviet Union. It remains one of China's most widely exported aircraft, although they have faced several issues over the years, including ageing design, maintenance challenges and high accident rate. Other Issues Apart from Chinese aircraft, human errors and external factors like bird strikes have also contributed to BAF accidents. Many experts believe unplanned urbanisation – including the presence of high-rise buildings within the aircraft marker line – is a key factor behind such crashes. An expert stated that Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, who was piloting the aircraft that crashed on Monday, was approaching the inner landing zone. However, the area, which should have been kept clear, was occupied by an ongoing urban development project. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
21-07-2025
- General
- First Post
What do we know about Chinese-made F-7 plane that crashed in Bangladesh?
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI had taken off around 1 pm on a routine training mission when it went down and hit Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara area. At least 19 have been left dead and over 100 injured. The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, has been killed. But what do we know about the F-7 BGI? read more Tragedy stuck Bangladesh on Monday after an aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force went down in Dhaka. The plane, which hit a school campus in Dhaka's Uttara area, left 19 dead and over 100 injured. The jet, an F-7 BGI, was on a routine training mission when it went down. It hit Milestone School and College around 1 pm. Several students were on campus at the time. Rescue operations are ongoing. The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, has been killed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what do we know about the Chinese-made F-7 plane? Let's take a closer look: What we know It is made by C hina's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. It is said to be the most advanced version of the J-7G. However, it continued to export its advanced versions abroad. It is mainly used as an interceptor aircraft in various air forces around the world including Bangladesdh and Myanmar. It was specifically designed keeping in mind the requirements of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). It is said to be a 'cost-effective, multi-purpose' fighter aircraft. Bangladesh signed a deal with China to deliver 16 such aircraft in 2011 in order to modernise its fleet. The aircraft were delivered in 2013. The F-7 BGI is a newer version of the F-7BG fighter jet. It comes with KLJ-6F fire-control radar. This allows it to find foes at a distance of over 86 kilometres. It can track six targets, and engage two simultaneously. The F-7 BGI has a full glass cockpit with three multi-function displays and three multifunctional heads-up displays and hands on throttle-and-stick controls. These features allow the pilot to improve his situational awareness. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It can hit a speed of Mach 2.2 and is said to have a service ceiling of 57,420 feet. Its afterburning engine generating 82 kN of power. It has five hard-points – to carry air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, GPS-guided bombs, and drop tanks. It can carry the PL-5, PL-7 and probably the PL-9 short range air-to-air missiles. It can carry bombs and unguided rocket pods of around 1,360 kilos. However, the F-7 BGI does not have the capacity to carry Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles. It is said to be far more manoeuvrable than most MiGs and other similar fighters. This is due to its J-7G2 airframe with a double-delta wing design – which allows excellent lift at high angles of attack, minimises risk of stalling and improves agility. The F-7 BGI can also carry C-704 anti-ship missiles for maritime strike missions. It can also use Chinese helmet-mounted sights for better target acquisition. Experts say the F-7 BGI is primarily suited for short-range aerial combat and training – which is its main use in the Bangladesh Air Force. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A J-7 last month went down in Myanmar, leaving four people dead in a village. The Myanmar Air Force attributed the crash to 'technical failure'. However, the Myanmar's People's Liberation Army claimed that it had downed the craft. In 2022, a J-7 crashed into a residential building in China's Xiangyang. Thankfully, the pilot ejected before the crash and survived. These developments, along with the performance of Chinese-made aircraft used by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, have raised serious questions about the quality of defence equipment produced by Beijing. What happened? The F-7 BGI took off for a training mission around 1 pm. 'The crash and the subsequent fire killed 19 people. At least 50 others were critically injured,' Brigadier General Zahed Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters. He said that rescuers have recovered 19 bodies from the school compound alone while the rescue operation was underway. Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for the Health Ministry, said that 72 people were hospitalised with burns and other types of injuries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said that wounded people, mostly students, were being treated at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS). Firefighters and army members work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft after it crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 21, 2025. (Reuters/Stringer) According to doctors, eight of the injured were in critical condition. 'The number of injured people being brought to our facility is rising,' a doctor at NIBPS told reporters. In a statement, the defence ministry said that the F-7 BGI training aircraft took off at 1:06 pm and crashed into the college campus soon after. The plane crashed with a big bang into a four-storey building of the Milestone School with a big bang and immediately caught fire, a fire service official said. According to police, firefighting units, ambulances, and air force helicopters rushed to the scene soon after the crash. A teacher of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that security personnel were putting bodies in body bags to be taken to Dhaka's combined military hospital from the damaged building, which housed classes from one to seven. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Dozens of ambulances were carrying the wounded to nearby hospitals,,' she said. The National Burn Institute in the capital said they were treating 18 people, mostly students, some with critical conditions. The interim government has declared a one-day state mourning on July 22 when the national flag will be flown at half-mast across Bangladesh and its missions abroad. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed shock and sorrow over the casualties caused by the crash. 'I am deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the heartbreaking accident involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet at the Milestone School and College campus,' he said in a statement. Fahim Hossain, an eleventh-grade student, said that the jet crashed right in front of his eyes – just 10 feet ahead of him. It hit the ground floor of a two-storey building around 1:15pm, where classes for the primary section were taking place,' Fahim told The Daily Star. With inputs from agencies
