DHAKA: Pilot error was responsible for a fighter jet crash that killed 36 people when it struck a school in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka in July, the government said on Wednesday, citing an official investigation.
The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft hit the Milestone School and College on July 21, moments after pupils were dismissed from class. It was Bangladesh’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades, with more than 170 others injured, many suffering severe burns.
A government inquiry committee submitted its findings to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, concluding that human error — not mechanical failure — caused the crash.
The air force had earlier said the 27-year-old pilot was on a routine training flight when the jet reportedly experienced a malfunction. Officials said he attempted to steer the aircraft away from residential areas before impact.
The crash triggered public outrage and calls to move military flight training away from the densely populated capital. While the Bangladesh Air Force initially defended the location for strategic reasons, the report recommended relocating training operations outside Dhaka.
It also urged the Civil Aviation Authority to prevent construction of schools, hospitals, warehouses and other facilities near airports to reduce risks in the event of future accidents.
