On Monday, 2024-MM-DD, a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka, killing at least 31 people, including 25 children and a teacher, and injuring over 170. Health Ministry spokesman Sayedur Rahman reported at least 88 people were hospitalized with burn injuries. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus pledged an investigation. The crash is the deadliest aviation accident in Bangladesh in decades, prompting renewed calls for relocating military bases from densely populated areas.

The F-7 BGI, a Chinese-designed aircraft, has been involved in previous accidents in Bangladesh (2008, 2015, 2018). Investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer Khan attributes continued F-7 use to economic constraints and procurement delays for modern aircraft. Dhaka-based lawyer Sara Hossain advocates for banning Air Force training flights over populated areas and holding those responsible accountable. Journalist Zyma Islam questions the military's claim of mechanical failure, highlighting the inappropriateness of military training in a densely populated city. Journalist Khan contends that poor urban planning and lax zoning regulations, allowing the school's proximity to the high-risk aviation zone, are key factors.

Impact Statement: The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and calls for increased accountability, improved safety measures, and better urban planning around military airbases in Bangladesh.