Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan on Tuesday urged people not to pay attention to any rumours, as he said misinformation is being spread on social media about a deadly aircraft crash at the Uttara Milestone School College compound.
“Please do not listen to any rumours on social media. A strong air force is essential for the sovereignty of the country. Please do not weaken this pillar of our sovereignty by spreading rumours. Like all of you, we are also heartbroken,” the air chief said at the Bangladesh Air Force Base Bir Uttam AK Khandker parade ground, after the funeral parade of Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, who died in the crash on Monday.
The chief of air staff said: “It is truly unfortunate that unrest is prevailing around the crash site. Many rumours are spreading. Do not listen to them. We are informing you of every update through ISPR, and we will continue to do so.”
“From whom would we hide information?”
“You are the people of our country. An accident is an accident. We are trying to bring the situation fully under control. If unrest continues, no one else will be harmed, except for our country,” he added.
The air chief said he was preparing to leave the country to attend a program but returned immediately after hearing about the tragic incident.
“Plane crashes can happen. A similar tragedy recently occurred in a neighbouring country, where lives were lost. One happened here yesterday. These accidents are not frequent. But only Allah knows why such incidents take place,” he said.
“However, our main task now is to recover from the damage that has been done. We have repeatedly said that we will stand by the victims. Our top priority is to ensure proper treatment for the injured. Alongside the government, the air force will always stand by the victims,” he added.
“We have already formed a high-level investigation team. They will submit their report very soon. Based on their findings, we will determine the next course of action.”
While replying to questions from journalists, he said: "We have followed standard procedures everywhere, yet the accident happened. Even in developed countries with highly advanced fighter jets, accidents occur. Just a few days ago, even an F-37 fighter jet crashed. So, no one can guarantee that accidents will not happen. But we will certainly learn from this incident and take steps to prevent future occurrences.
"Aircraft generally do not become obsolete easily—they have a lifetime. These jets typically have a lifespan of around 30 years, sometimes more. So it is not just a matter of one or two decades. The real issue is whether we are maintaining them properly. I want to assure you that we make no compromises when it comes to aircraft maintenance. The countries we procure our jets from also provide us with the full maintenance technology and support, as per agreements. So our maintenance process is sound.
"Technologically, these aircraft are now outdated. But they are not yet beyond use. We are actively working to bring in newer-generation aircraft. As you all know, we plan to procure jets with advanced technology in the future. But even those can crash; there is no guarantee they will not. That is the reality.”
He continued: “Still, we perform thorough maintenance on these jets, both domestically and abroad, wherever necessary. All maintenance and repair protocols are followed strictly.
“At this moment, I am the seniormost airman in the country. And I am not sure about the cause of this incident. Before an investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to speculate. But I can confirm that this was a single-engine aircraft.
“A few days ago, a commercial aircraft had to return and land shortly after takeoff because one engine failed. Our aircraft has only one engine. That engine can face many technical issues—it could be a bird strike, or something else entirely. In this case, the final moments passed too quickly.
“If the aircraft had remained intact, or if the pilot had survived, we would have had more data. But we have neither. So the investigation will take time, and I urge you all to remain patient until then.”
The air chief said that since these aircraft rely on a single engine, the air force never compromises on their maintenance. “Yes, it is old technology, but we never fly even a single extra hour beyond its permitted limit. Every necessary repair is completed thoroughly. So we have no doubt about the condition of the plane.”
“Still, when technical failure happens, it does not always give a warning. From that perspective, I do not believe we have compromised anything,” he added.
“At one point, there were plans to move the airport elsewhere. But after urban expansion, that did not happen. It is not just an air force issue—it is difficult to find a suitable location in such a densely populated country like Bangladesh. Even when you find one, people eventually settle there too.”
“When I first flew in 1985, there was nothing in Uttara. Now look at its state. That is just how Bangladesh has developed—our people are everywhere. This is a rare case. It is not appropriate to compare it with the population density of other countries."
Earlier, the home adviser, army chief, acting chief of navy, family members of Flight Lt Towkir, his colleagues, and others attended his funeral prayer and observed the guard of honour given to him at the air force base parade ground.
