Pakistan Army Aviation Martyrs’ Monument
Posted on: June 12th, 2013
The impressive Martyrs' Monument at Qasim is a tribute to all aviators who have died in service, whatever the circumstances. A civilian contractor can be seen polishing up the plaques for Martyrs’ Day, which was April 30, just a few days after this photo, was taken. All photos, AFD-Alan Warnes
Alan Warnes recently visited a monument at Qasim Army Air Base, Rawalpindi which remembers all the Aviation aviators that have lost their lives.
A NEW monument has been built at Qasim, the Pakistan Army Aviation’s (PAA) main hub, which remembers the Shaheeds (Martyrs) who have lost their lives flying with the PAA.
Some 65 crashes have claimed lives since 1953, the bulk of them comprise L-19 Bird Dogs (16) and MFI-17 Mushshaks (21). There have been various reasons, but they are attributed mainly to bad weather or unauthorized maneuvers. Fortunately the PAA has managed to cut out the latter in recent years.
The PAA has always been on the forefront in rendering sacrifices whether it has been the India – Pakistan wars, recce and rescue operations in northern areas of Pakistan, disaster relief operations (floods, earthquakes etc.), UN peace keeping missions or operation Al-Mizan – the ongoing war effort in the west against miscreants.
Considering the number of sorties flown in Operation Al-Mizan, that has seen many RPGs incidents and helicopters riddled with bullets, there has been a surprisingly low fatality rate.
Having said that, the biggest loss of life occurred on July 3, 2009, when Mi-17 58635 crashed during one of those sorties, claiming 42 lives. The biggest loss of PAA personnel on any aircraft took place on July 31, 1988, after a Puma flying from Gilgit to Skardu in the Himalayas crashed.
Every year, on Martyrs Day, now held on April 30, a ceremony is held to remember them. It is arguably, one of the finest memorials dedicated to lost aviators.
A close up of the right side of the Martyrs' Monument.
May 2, 1953 Auster Aiglet W-4105
Captain Vajid Ali Khan was on a recce mission when his aircraft crashed 4 miles (6.5km) from Chaklala.
June 11, 1953 Auster Aiglet serial unknown
Captain AMS Ahmed was on a local flying mission when his aircraft collided with another mid-air, three miles east of Chaklala.
December 1, 1960 L-19 Bird Dog 5993
Captain Syed Aziz Ul Hassan was sent to Munda Qala to arrange the recovery of a damaged aircraft. He departed Dargai, with Major Maqbool, the Officer Commanding 199 Workshop, when the Bird Dog hit a mountain top not far from their destination. The fuel tank ruptured, caught fire and the aircraft crashed.
December 10, 1961 L-19 Bird Dog 1631
Captain Ikram Ullah Khan was flying the Bird Dog over Pindi Bhattian, when he started a descent to the airfield there. After a low pass at 15ft (4m) and a turn down wind the port wing struck the ground, which caused the aircraft to crash and catch fire.
February 28, 1963 L-19 Bird Dog 5997
Having been posted to Flight Instructors School (FIS), Captain Muhammad Riaz Malik practiced flying from the rear seat, while Captain Raja Sarfraz was in the front. While flying low level near Dhudial the aircraft crashed and caught fire. Despite being extinguished by local villagers, neither of the pilots survived.
December 6, 1965 L-19 Bird Dog 1704
Captain Mirza Sultan Baig was flying his Bird Dog with passenger Captain Abdul Qayyum on a training sortie when they crashed at Bhagtanwala (Sargodha).
December 2, 1968 L-19 Bird Dog 1968
During practiced force landings, student pilot Captain Raza Ahmed Khawaja of the Army Aviation School allowed his aircraft to descend below the authorized altitude for a go-around. He tried to pull up but the aircraft stalled and crashed in Khurrar village,
five miles (8km) south of Chakri.
June 27, 1970 L-19 Bird Dog 6005
Major Tahir Mahmood Jilani along with passenger Major Noor Muhammad (Engineers) were on board their Bird Dog, looking for the body of Captain Akbar who had drowned earlier in Kabul River near Nowshera. They were flying in marginal visibility conditions, when they disappeared, the aircraft never returned to base. It is unclear if their bodies were recovered.
December 7, 1971 L-19 Bird Dog unknown
Major Fayyaz Ibrahim crashed in the Rajistan sector while evading an Indian Air Force fighter after returning from a reconnaissance mission. The pilot was posthumously awarded Sitara-i-Jurat.
December 7, 1971 L-19 Bird Dog unknown
Captain Aftab Ahmed Khan and Hav Muhammad Abdul Sharif were on a flying mission when this aircraft was chased by Indian fighters and hit. The aircraft crashed and caught fire.
January 4, 1972 L-19 Bird Dog 003
A Bengali officer from the 24 Signals Battalion, 2Lt Humayun Raza hijacked the Bird Dog, flown by Major Muhammad Qasim, just after take-off from Mianwali strip near Pasroor. He shot the pilot twice in the head with a .38mm revolver and headed to India. An enquiry into the incident revealed he was a qualified Cessna 150 pilot from Dacca (now Bangladesh) with 230 hours. He was to face the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Armoured Division on January 5, 1972, charged with causing death to a civilian by a military jeep in December 1970. Qasim Army Aviation Base Dhamial is now named in the memory of Major Qasim. The aircraft crashed while the Bengali officer was trying to land the aircraft in Indian Territory.
February 8, 1972 L-19 Bird Dog 986
Major Anwar Mohi-Ud-Din was attempting to land his aircraft at the Qila Subha Sing airstrip, but lost too much altitude on his final turn towards the runway. He attempted to rectify the problem with a sharp turn very low over trees, but it stalled and hit the ground in the middle of the runway.
April 14, 1972 L-19 Bird Dog 100
The aircraft lost height overhead Mandi Sadiq Ganj after passenger, Major Fateh Khan (24 Baloch) pressed his leg on the rear control column while waving to troops below. On the release of the pressure, the aircraft pulled up sharply as the pilot had been exerting a backward pressure on the stick. The stall took place at 300-350ft (90- 100m) and recovery could not be made.
October 23, 1974 Alouette III 1950
Major Tauhid ul Haq along with Lt Ali Said Yabooni (from the UAE Army) crashed about 10 miles (16km) from Dhamial (now Qasim) during a routine training mission in clear visibility.
July 4, 1975 L-19 5995
Shortly after take-off from Quetta-Khalid airfield, Captain Sajid Nazeer encountered an engine fire with his Bird Dog. The aircraft stalled and crashed while attempting to get back to base.
April 16, 1976 Alouette III 5189
Major Muhammad Nasrullah Khan Mahmood and Major Khalid along with three passengers (Brigadier Daud, Brigade Commander 80 Brigade; Colonel Zaka, Col Staff HQ FCNA and Major Shahid OC Signals Coy) departed Astor. However, shortly after take-off the helicopter experienced problems and crashed two miles (3km) from the helipad.
July 13, 1976 Bell 206 1834
Nk Murad Ali was holding the helicopter’s documents, when some blew away. He rushed after them but was unfortunately hit fatally by the tail rotor. Murad Ali (Hangar No2) is Qasim Army Aviation Base is named in his memory.
January 24, 1977 Mi-8 0424
Captain Farooq Dasti along with Captain Shafqat Ullah left Quetta for Qasim via the Sibi-Multan route in their Mi-8. It departed Sibi at 1155 hours, flew for nine minutes and crashed. All occupants were killed including six Aviation personnel.
March 7, 1978 L-19 Bird Dog 199
Major Tanvir Ahmed crashed ten miles east of Mangla after an unauthorized maneuver over his native village. The aircraft caught fire.
March 27, 1978 L-19 Bird Dog 5987
During a flight from Kohlu, Captain Zahid Shah undertook an unauthorized maneuver along with his course mate Captain Jamil Ur Rehman when the aircraft crashed. The aircraft went into a spin after the pilot misjudged the aircraft’s height due to restricted visibility and went straight into the ground.
July 30, 1979 L-19 Bird Dog 5988
Major Muslim Ghani, with Major Anser Ahmed on board, executed a maximum performance take off with 30˚ flap, nose high attitude and reached 300ft (90m) above ground level when an engine emergency occurred. The aircraft stalled, crashed and caught fire.
July 11, 1980 L-19 Bird Dog 004
Major Shah Nawaz took off from Peshawar with Brig Syed Husnain as passenger but encountered low clouds and poor visibility. The pilot made three circles over Qasim Khel village but the aircraft impacted the hills in the Dara Adam Khel range resulting in death of both pilots.
September 7, 1980 MFI-17 (78-5)064
Major Zahid Jadoon was on a weather checking mission from Lahore accompanied by OC Ops PADF Base Lahore Wing, Wg Cdr Pervez Khan. The pilot decided to take on unauthorized low level aerobatics over a large gathering of spectators at the airport and hit the PIA Building. The aircraft caught fire and both pilots died.
October 7, 1982 MFI-17 (78-5)094
Major Aziz Ahmed along with student pilot Lt Ijaz Ahmed took off from Qasim bound for Tilah. The aircraft suffered an engine failure about eight miles (13km) west of Sohawa and crashed, claiming lives of both.
December 2, 1983 Mi-8 4518
During maneuvers that involved eight Mi-8s the helicopter crashed as it arrived near a drop zone. All crew Major Mahmood Hussain, Captain Shafqat Hussain, Sub Khuda Dad Khan, Hav Muhammad Anwar, Nk Muhammad Saleem perished.
September 17, 1984 MFI-17 76-520
After termination of an artillery shoot, Capt Tariq Mahmood Sheikh and Hav Muhammad Husain were heading back on a low level flight to Mangla. En route they hit high tension wires running across River Kahan, near Malot village. After striking the wires and getting entangled the aircraft fell to the ground, bounced into the air and became inverted.
August 25, 1986 MFI-17 (81-5)109
Captain Shahid Mahmood along with Captain Abdul Fazal suffered a power loss over Muzaffargarh city during a close support mission with the Pakistan Air Force. The aircraft crashed, claiming lives of both Captains.
April 2, 1987 MFI-17 (78-5)067
During rehearsals for the air display marking the passing out ceremony of P-28 Course, Major Ahmed Bilal Qureshi lost control during inverted flight. The nose of the MFI-17 started dropping and despite the mobile officer guiding the pilot to push the stick forward the aircraft could not be controlled. It subsequently crashed and caught fire.
December 14, 1987 Bell 206 1834
While participating in 1 Corps’ Exercise Thunder Bolt the helicopter crashed in poor visibility. Captain Nadeem Ullah and Hav Fareed had taken off from Kharian and the helicopter was going to be an exhibit at Sambrial for visit of President of Pakistan.
January 10, 1988 MFI-17 84-5124
Lt Col Saleem Razza along with Major Arif was carrying out a simulated force landing at Faisal, when the engine failed to respond after he opened power. With the low altitude, low airspeed, banked attitude of the aircraft, poor light conditions and non-availability of landing area the situation was pretty serious. The aircraft stalled, then dropped, bounced, crashed and caught fire.
February 24, 1988 Alouette III 1953
During a operational mission in Dansum Sector the pilot, Major Ijaz Haider Zaidi, with co-pilot Captain Waqar Hussain Baig, experienced a loss of power after reaching 200-300ft (60-90m). Unfortunately the auto-rotation (landing with no engine) was not successful due to the high altitude and the helicopter crashed. Crew Chief Havildar Riasat Khan survived.
July 31, 1988 Puma 1406
Lt Col Sajid Islam and Major Khalid Akhtar Minhas departed Gilgit for Skardu. After 30 minutes No 2 engine failed and the pilot decided to land immediately, close to Basha village, 18 miles (25km) west of Skardu. With a single engine he could not stop the fast rate of descent and the helicopter crashed, caught fire and was completely destroyed. All six on board, the two pilots and Sub Mohammad Rafique, Hav Laiqat Ali, Hav Abdul Haq and Hav Muhammad Yousaf were killed.
January 18, 1989 MFI-17 (88-5)156
Captain Hamid Sarwar of 1 Army Aviation Squadron died in the crash while carrying out an air test. An engine malfunction forced the pilot to turn back when he was at 400ft (122m). The aircraft crashed short of Mangla and was completely destroyed.
May 7, 1989 MFI-17 88-5173
Captain Shahid Irshad departed Sialkot air strip for Rahwali with passenger Captain Muhammad Akhter next to him. When 6 miles (9.5kms) north east of Rahwali the pilot descended the aircraft to undertake unauthorized low level flying. The cause of crash is likely to have been a partial power loss/intermittent engine response when one of the plugs in the engine was found dead and a fuel line clogged.
May 24, 1989 MFI-17 76-518
Captain Tasawar Hussain Hamayun of 11 Aviation Squadron was killed when he crashed his aircraft during an unauthorized maneuver over his native village, Thao Hamayun.
December 23, 1989 MFI-17 (83-5)112
Captain Syed Raza Ali and Captain Amir Yasin of 9 Army Aviation Squadron were flying their Mushshak from Rafiqui to Peshawar. A low cloud base over Kohat saw the pilots try to detour around the cloud but crashed into hills.
March 5, 1990 SA315 Lama 2685
Capt Abdul Qayyum and Capt Kamal Masood, along with technicians Nk Bahadur Khan and Nk Sultan Ahmed, were all killed when the Lama crashed while departing Qasim. The likely cause of the damage is the failure of the right mounting bolt of tail rotor gear box.
July 17, 1990 MFI-17 (81-5)111
Captain Waqar Ahmed along with student pilot Captain Zaighum Abbas Jafri was killed when their Mushshak crashed while practicing an aerobatic display for the graduation ceremony of the P-31 Class, on July 26, 1990. In the process of completing a third consecutive aileron roll at Gujrat airfield the aircraft brushed a tree top and impacted the ground while inverted. After impact the aircraft bounced in the air, turned upright caught fire and came to a complete stop after hitting telegraph wires.
November 28, 1991 MFI-17 (89-5)182
Captain Naveed Khan carried out an unauthorized low level maneuver over Islamabad. Unfortunately he lost control of the aircraft, which crashed, claiming his life.
January 9, 1992 MFI-17 (88-5)161
Major Muhammad Naveed was flying from Lahore to Okara, when eight miles (13kms) from Okara he hit a tree some 35ft (10m) high in poor visibility. After impact it hit high tension wires and he was electrocuted.
March 21, 1992 Lama 2673
Major Syed Tahir Ali and Captain Muhammad Nawaz landed their Lama at Arif Post at some 19,300ft (5,880m). The helicopter remained on the pad for 20-30 seconds but then lost grip because of the soft snow under the skids. The main rotors struck the mountains and the helicopter entered into an uncontrolled right spiral descent accompanied by a snow avalanche. Both pilots died of their injuries.
June 17, 1992 MFI-17 (86-5)157
Captain Shahid Rehman Tariq flew an unauthorized maneuver at critically low speed near Gujrat when he lost control and the aircraft crashed.
August 1, 1992 SA 315 Lama 2692
Major Khalid Sohail Sultan and Major Babar Ramzan, along with Brigadier Masood Naveed, were carrying out reconnaissance of AOR. The helicopter was hit by a missile fired by the Indian Army and crashed in Chulung area. The occupants were awarded Sitara-e-Jurat posthumously on March 23, 1993.
September 2, 1992 MFI-17 (79-5)071
Major Rashid Mansoor and Major Safdar Jahanzeb were flying their Mushsak for an artillery shoot. While returning from Tilla Ranges back to Qasim the aircraft crashed at Taraki Hills due to inclement weather.
April 24, 1993 AB 205 352
The helicopter hit the ground in the Rahwali training area after wrong techniques were adopted during maneuvers. The helicopter sustained major damage, with Captain Nasir Hussain Bangash and Captain Raja Shahid both is losing their lives.
September 14, 1994 MFI-17 (79-5)086
During an unauthorized maneuver, Captain Waqar Saeed crashed his aircraft. He had taken the aircraft down to a low altitude, after which he executed three low level steep turns, the last being tighter in radius and steeper in bank than the previous turns. During the last turn, the aircraft flipped over and spun into the ground.
March 4, 1998 Alouette III 1490
Lt Colonel Nayyer, along with three maintenance personnel, departed Qasim for Mangla. However the helicopter entered poor visibility and crashed near Sohawa. All four were killed.
June 10, 1999 Mi-17 58611
While returning from the Gultari operational area after a fire fighting mission, the Russian helicopter crashed near Satpara Valley. All eleven on board including the five aviators, Major Muhammad Hanif, Captain Muhammad Uzair, Hav Muhammad Shabbir Assi, Hav Bashir Ahmed and Nk Naseer Ahmed lost their lives. It is thought low clouds over the Deosai Plains blocked all exit routes from the valley and left them no chance of finding a diversion airfield.
July 1, 1999 MFI-17 (95-5)368
During the first leg of a training and navigation mission from Rahwali to Multan the aircraft experienced an engine malfunction. Major Ahmed Waseem Bukhari and Captain Kanwar Rashid elected to force land at Qadir Pur Rawan, some 12 miles (20km) northeast of Multan. However the aircraft hit the ground and both died.
October 31, 1999 MFI-17 (79-5)086
Captain Shahid Nisar Aulakh and Captain Masood Ullah Baig were carrying out rehearsals in their aircraft in Rahwali for the graduation ceremony of Class P40. On their third practice the MFI-17’s dive angle was shallower, resulting in less speed than required for aileron roll. The nose was pitched higher than needed so the speed dropped and the aircraft went into a spin. Owing to the low altitude, the aircraft could not recover and crashed.
April 24, 2003 Mi-17 58614
Major Imtiaz Ahmed and Major Syed Nadeem Ali departed Chillum for Minimerg with eight barrels of oil and nine passengers on board. Across Burzii Pass they encountered bad weather and the helicopter went into a ‘white-out’ conditions. The pilot decided to turn around but unfortunately hit a snow covered ridge. The helicopter crashed and caught fire with loss of all on board including two technicians, Hav Muhammad Nawaz and Muhammad Naseem.
June 29, 2004 Mi-17 United Nations
Njk Muhammad Amir, a qualified airframe technician was killed when a United Nations Mi-17 crashed in Sierre Leone.
October 15, 2005 Mi-17 ‘58153’ (58513?)
Lt Col Ahmed Ali Shah and Captain Abdur Rahim had been participating in relief and rescue operations in the earthquake affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. While offloading supplies at Sher Camp, the crew, which also comprised N/Sub Muhammad Saleem and Hav Jahanzeb, noticed a buildup of bad weather and decided to abandon their other drop offs and return to Bagh. Immediately after take-off they encountered low clouds, rain and thunder activity with almost zero visibility. While trying to avoid the weather the helicopter hit a mountain ridge approximately 1 mile (1.5km) northwest of Sher Camp. All the crew were killed.
June 21, 2006 Bell 412 786-210
During Operation Al Mizan, the pilot diverted from his original route to fly over Baran Dam while flying through a dry nullah and the skids touched the water twice. The third time the helicopter went into a nose down attitude. The cyclic was pulled excessively aft, the main rotor flexed down and cut the tail boom. The helicopter crashed with loss of all three on board – Captain Faisal Khan, Captain Khan Shams Naveed Iqbal and L/Nk Ikram Ullah.
February 6, 2008 Bell 412 786-201
During an Operation Al Mizan mission near Dargai (SWA) with GOC 9 Division Major General Javed Sultan, Brigadier Saeed Ahmed, Brigadier Muhammad Afzal Cheema on board, the helicopter crashed. Pilots Lt Col Umer Farooq and Captain Shehzad Aslam were flying the Bell 412 on an recce sortie over the AOR when it crashed a few minutes after take-off.
August 13, 2008 MFI-17 (95-5)372
Captain Muhammad Bilal was on a training mission when he encountered bad weather. The pilot tried to avert the situation by flying on instruments but due to heavy mist and fog he got disorientated and the aircraft crashed near Bahawalpur.
July 3, 2009 Mi-17 58635
Captain Sohail Abbas and Capt Kurram Shahzad were on a mission moving troops in support of Operation Al Mizan from Parachanar to Peshawar. During the second mission of the day the helicopter was engaged by miscreants and their anti-aircraft guns. The helicopter crashed 15.7 miles (25 km) south west of Peshawar with all 42 occupants killed. It included the two pilots and technicians Hav Hazrat Hussain, Hav Ali Asghar and Hav Asif Rashid.
October 24, 2009 Mi-17 58639
Major Hamayan Jehanzeb and Captain Masoudullah Baig were flying on a logistics mission from Khar to Nawa Pass supporting Op Al Mizan. While at Nawa Pass helipad the helicopter came under rocket attack by the miscreants. The pilot took off immediately but the helicopter caught fire so the pilot decided to force land. Unfortunately the helicopter crashed and caught fire. The three on board, which also included NK Nadeem Khan, were lost.
February 10, 2010 AH-1F 786-034
Major Muddassar Razzaq and Captain Asim Karim were detailed to engage miscreants in Terah Valley with two Bell 412s in support of Op Al Mizan. The helicopter was hit by rockets fired by the miscreants and crashed into Terah Valley (Khyber Agency). Both pilots died.
February 23, 2010 Mi-8MTV 58504
Major Kafeel Ahmed and Captain Rizwan Sohail were flying on a night training mission at Ghazi airfield, Tarbela. During the second circuit the crew encountered a technical problem and crashed. Flight Engineer Hav Masood Ur Rahman suffered critical injuries and died.
April 8, 2010 MFI-17 (86-5)147
Capt Abdul Rashid Hakeem encountered a technical malfunction after taking off from Peshawar. He tried to land the aircraft and while trying to avoid a built up area the MFI-17 crashed in Naghuman area near Charsada.
September 12, 2010 MFI-17 (80-5)095
Captain Kamran Ikram Khan was killed when he crashed during a solo flying training mission. The aircraft lost control and crashed at Rasul Nagar.
December 22, 2010 MFI-17 (95-5)363
Captain Muhammad Zahoor ul Haq was flying his Mushshak with Hav Maqsood Ahmed alongside from Zhob to Quetta-Khalid on a navigation mission in a formation of three MFI-17s. About eight miles (13km) south east of Muslim Bagh the aircraft hit a mountain and caught fire, due to heavy winds.
May 23, 2012 S-300?
Instructor Pilot Major Zahid Bari and student pilot Captain Irfan Ahmed of Rotary Course 13 (and ex 34 Frontier Force Regiment) were detailed for flying in their Schweizer S-300. While on their sortie, radio contact was lost and after a search the helicopter was found ditched in the River Chanab. The body of Captain Irfan was recovered on May 28 and Major Zahid, who had been honored the Tamgha-e-Basalat medal, was recovered on May 31, 2012.
July 11, 2012 Mi-8MTV 58508
The Mi-8MTV was on a test flight from Skardu when it crashed. The pilots, Major Amir Azam and Major Shuaib, plus crew Hav Abdul Waheed, Hav Zeeshan Haider and Nk Muhammad Imran, were killed, although there was one survivor.
“ONE CAN NEVER CONSENT TO CREEP WHEN ONE FEELS THE IMPULSE TO SOAR.”
Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. One of her verses is inscribed on a plaque with a dedication to the fallen aviators.
AFD
