7 Out of 11 Crashes in 20 Years Involved Chinese-Made Aircraft
China Remains Silent... Media Censorship Amid Fears of Declining Trust
As the Chinese-made F-7BGI fighter jet crashed into an elementary school building during a training flight, resulting in dozens of casualties, concerns have resurfaced locally regarding the safety of the inexpensive Chinese fighter jets that the Bangladesh Air Force has operated for decades.
People in Bangladesh are looking at a school building burned after an Air Force training aircraft crashed on July 22, 2025, at the Milestone College campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The death toll from the aircraft crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka on July 21 has risen to 31. The accident injured 165 people. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
According to the Dhaka Tribune on the 27th (local time), a former air force officer stated, "The main reason for frequent crashes is the Chinese-made fighter jets," adding, "The Bangladesh Air Force is compelled to continue using Chinese-made aircraft due to various constraints."
A former officer specializing in aviation safety also told the newspaper, "There have been many recommendations to upgrade to European-made fighter jets, but due to political reasons and low costs, the air force has continued to use these dangerous jets," emphasizing that "this puts the lives of pilots at risk."
Residents gathered upon hearing the news of an Air Force training aircraft crash at Milestone College campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
According to local media, the Bangladesh Air Force has experienced at least 27 fighter jet and trainer aircraft crashes over the past 30 years. Among the 11 incidents that occurred since 2005, 7 involved Chinese-made aircraft. In particular, models such as the F-7, FT-7, and PT-6 have repeatedly been involved in accidents, with most causes attributed to mechanical failure.
An investigation is underway at Milestone School and College, a K-12 school in the Uttara area north of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Meanwhile, on the 21st, a Chinese-made F-7 BGI trainer jet from the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the campus of 'Milestone School and College' in the Uttara area north of Dhaka. The accident resulted in 27 deaths and injuries to more than 170 people.
After the accident, the Chinese government has been controlling related news coverage, apparently out of concern for the declining credibility of its domestically produced fighter jets. Bangladesh had also been considering the purchase of J-10C jets, but with distrust of Chinese-made fighter jets spreading after this accident, there is speculation that China's efforts to expand its market may face setbacks.
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