LAHORE: Since December 13, 1949, around 125 Pakistan Army officers of various ranks have lost their lives in aviation-related crashes, according to research.
The first major tragedy occurred on December 13, 1949, when a Dakota C-53 crashed near Jung Shahi, killing Major General Mohammad Iftikhar Khan, his wife and infant daughter. He was considered a potential future army chief. Here are selected major Army Aviation and related crashes: In September 2025, a Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Chilas during a training flight, killing five crew members. In August 2022, a flood relief helicopter crashed in Lasbela, killing Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, Maj Gen Amjad Hanif, Brig Muhammad Khalid and three others. In September 2022, a helicopter crash in Harnai killed six personnel, including two majors. In December 2021, two pilots were killed in a Siachen helicopter crash. In July 2019, a training aircraft crashed in Rawalpindi, killing all five crew members and 13 civilians on the ground. In May 2015, a Mi-17 crash in Naltar killed eight people, including foreign ambassadors. In June 2011, a Rangers helicopter crash in Layyah killed Maj Gen Mohammad Nawaz, his son, pilot and technician.In February 2003, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, his wife and 16 others were killed in a PAF aircraft crash near Kohat. In August 1988, President Gen Zia-ul-Haq and 29 others died in a C-130 crash near Bahawalpur. In 1984, a Cessna crash near Mankera killed Gen Farooq Shaukat Lodhi’s ADC and pilot.
