Air Force chief advises against ‘falling for rumours’ after F-7 jet crash kills schoolchildren in Dhaka

After a deadly school crash involving an F-7 BGI, Bangladesh Air Force chief has brushed aside safety concerns, calling online speculation “rumours” and defending the jet’s performance record.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan said the jets in service may be old, but none have exceeded their operational lifetime, and maintenance is carried out “without compromise”.

“Aircraft don’t age that easily. Each has a defined lifespan, which in the case of these jets is around 30 years,” he said at BAF Base Bashar in Kurmitola, following the funeral parade of Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, the pilot killed in the crash, bdnews24.com reports. 

“One decade or two doesn’t make much difference -- the key question is whether we’re maintaining them properly. And I want to assure you, we do not compromise on that,” he added.

He said Bangladesh sources full maintenance technology, equipment and parts through formal agreements with the manufacturing country.

“We obtain everything required for upkeep, including the airframe and engine, directly and maintain them accordingly,” he added.

“The process involves no shortcuts.”
While acknowledging that the aircraft are technologically outdated, he argued that they remain airworthy. “Technologically, these jets are old, yes. But that doesn’t make the aircraft themselves unsafe.

“Everyone knows we’re working on acquiring newer-generation fighter jets for the future.

“That doesn’t mean accidents won’t happen with new aircraft either. Crashes are part of aviation. But we are doing everything possible, both at home and abroad, to ensure these jets are properly maintained.”

The F-7 BGI jet came down during a training flight on Monday, crashing into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Diabari.

Witnesses said the jet struck the school’s field and then slammed into a two-storey academic building before erupting into flames.

The death toll from the incident has climbed to 28, with 68 others still undergoing treatment in hospital.

Most of the victims are children, many of whom suffered severe burns and remain in critical condition.

The incident has prompted widespread criticism over why training flights are conducted above densely populated areas.

The safety record of the F-7 BGI has also come under renewed scrutiny.