Second Major Failure of Chinese Fighter Jets: Bangladesh College Crash Exposes Cracks in Beijing’s Defence Dreams

A tragic crash of a Chinese-made FT-7BGI training aircraft in the heart of Bangladesh’s capital has reignited global scrutiny over the reliability of Chinese military equipment. The accident, which took place Monday afternoon, has claimed at least 27 lives, mostly students and injured over 170 others after the fighter jet slammed into Milestone School and College in the Uttara area of Dhaka.

Eyewitnesses described the aircraft flying unusually low before it lost control, clipped coconut trees, and crashed into a classroom building, triggering a massive explosion. The pilot reportedly died on impact. The FT-7BGI, a newer variant of China’s ageing F-7 fighter series, had been part of Bangladesh’s 2022 defence acquisition. It includes 36 such aircraft procured from China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation in a deal struck under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Recurring Failures of Chinese Jets

The Dhaka tragedy is not an isolated case. It follows a growing pattern of mechanical and operational failures linked to Chinese-made fighter jets. In Nigeria, seven of the nine F-7 aircraft delivered by China had to be returned due to unresolvable defects and a lack of local servicing capability. Despite these warning signs, countries like Bangladesh continued to rely on these aircraft, which critics have branded “flying coffins.”

The aircraft’s failure in Bangladesh now mirrors the dysfunctionality seen during Pakistan’s Operation Sindoor in May, where Chinese-supplied weapons systems, including fighter jets, air defence radars, and drones, failed to repel Indian strikes. Notably, a Chinese anti-stealth radar system deployed at Pakistan’s Chuniya airbase was destroyed, exposing the vulnerability of Beijing’s much-vaunted defence technology in real combat.

Chengdu Shares in Freefall

The financial impact of repeated equipment failures is now taking a significant toll on China’s military-industrial sector, following the Bangladesh crash and Pakistan’s defence embarrassment during Operation Sindoor, shares of Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. It is a key subsidiary of China’s Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC)—plummeted by nearly 9%, wiping out billions in market value.

This sharp decline marks the second significant hit to Chengdu’s stock in recent months. In May, following India’s successful downing of a JF-17 jet and multiple breaches of Chinese air defence systems, AVIC saw a steep reversal in investor confidence, with analysts warning of long-term damage to China’s ambitions as a global arms supplier.

Systemic Flaws and Global Repercussions

Experts argue that these failures are symptomatic of deeper issues within China’s defence sector. The country’s export strategy, built around offering low-cost alternatives to Western military hardware, is increasingly being undermined by poor quality control, inadequate after-sales support, and allegations of widespread corruption. High-profile purges of Chinese defence officials, including former Defence Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, have highlighted internal rot.

Across the globe, buyers of Chinese defence equipment are voicing their concerns. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nigeria, and Algeria have all faced significant operational setbacks due to malfunctioning Chinese systems, including radar failures, cracked fighter fuselages, non-functional missile systems, and defective naval engines.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has noted a 23% drop in Chinese arms exports between 2018 and 2022, underscoring Beijing’s struggle to retain buyer confidence even in its traditional markets.

Credibility Crisis for Beijing

Monday’s tragedy in Dhaka is more than a local disaster; it signals a deepening crisis for China’s global defence narrative. Once touted as a rising alternative to Western and Russian arms exporters, Beijing’s reputation is now stuck in battlefield failures and customer dissatisfaction.

As countries reassess their defence procurement strategies, China’s inability to ensure product reliability or offer effective support is prompting traditional buyers to turn to alternative suppliers, such as Turkey, South Korea, and Western nations.

For Beijing, unless it addresses the structural flaws and corruption within its defence establishment, its dream of becoming a military export superpower may be crashing, just like its jets.

Team BharatShakti