Bangladesh Air Force Training Aircraft Crashes Due to Mechanical Failure - ISPR - Dhaka Gate News English

A Bangladesh Air Force FT-7 BGI fighter jet, part of a routine training exercise, crashed in Dhaka’s Uttara area at the campus of Milestone School and College due to a mechanical failure, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The incident occurred on Monday, July 21, 2025, after the aircraft took off from the Bangladesh Air Force Base A.K. Khandakar in Kurmitola at 1:06 PM.

According to an ISPR press release issued on Monday afternoon, the aircraft encountered a mechanical issue shortly after takeoff, the details of which will be revealed following an investigation. In an effort to avoid major damage and loss of life, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, made every attempt to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a less crowded location. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed into a two-story building at Milestone School and College in Diabari, Dhaka, resulting in an unintended disaster.

The tragic accident claimed the lives of 19 people, including the pilot, and injured 164 others. The injured have been promptly evacuated to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and nearby medical facilities using Air Force helicopters and ambulances for urgent treatment. The Bangladesh Air Force expressed profound grief over the incident and is fully committed to providing medical care and comprehensive support to the victims. As the Air Force Chief is currently on an official visit abroad, the Assistant Air Force Chief (Administration), along with senior Air Force officials and rescue teams, are present at the crash site. Senior officials, including the Army Chief, the Principal Staff Officer of the ArmedForces Division, and other high-ranking government officials, were also in attendance. The Army, Air Force, Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Fire Service are actively engaged in rescue operations at the site, working tirelessly to manage the situation. A high-level investigation committee has already been formed by the Air Force to determine the cause of the crash, as stated in the press release.