Aug 20, 2021: The Pakistan Army has paid tribute to Rashid Minhas, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot officer who was martyred at the age of 20 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Minhas was awarded the Nishan Haider for his bravery and became the youngest PAF officer to receive the highest military award for outstanding bravery.
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a tweet on Thursday, “On the 50th anniversary of our martyrdom, we remember National Hero Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan Haider with devotion, bravery and great sacrifice. ”
On 5Oth Martyrdom anniversary, we remember with reverence, bravery & supreme sacrifice of National Hero Pilot officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-e -Haider. In line of duty, Pilot offr Rashid Minhas lived up to great traditions of Pakistan Air Force defending the motherland.
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) August 19, 2021
In the line of duty, Minhas adhered to the PAF’s great tradition of defending the motherland.
Born in Karachi on February 17, 1951, Minhas spent his early childhood in Lahore and later moved to Rawalpindi and then back to Karachi.
Minhas joined the Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur at the age of 17 as a flying cadet and graduated from the academy in 1971 as a general duty pilot.
One day during the ’71 war, on August 20, 1971, Rashid got ready to board his T-33 jet trainer for his solo flight. He started his engine and completed the check. As Minhas was taking a taxi to the runway, his instructor pilot came to the taxiway and signaled him to stop.
Thinking that his instructor might want to give him some last-minute instructions, Minhas stopped the plane. The instructor forcibly entered the back cockpit and took control of the aircraft. The plane flew and turned towards India. The radio at the Masroor Control Tower soon came to life, and Minhas said it was being hijacked. The air controller asked them to resend their message and confirm that it was hijacking.
What happened next was a story of great courage and patriotism. In the air, Minhas struggled physically to overcome his instructor. Each man tried to control the other through technically connected flight controls.
The instructor intended to force the plane to India. However, the determined Rashid was not ready for it. The fierce struggle lasted for minutes and when the plane approached the Indian border, Rashid Minhas knew what to do. He knew that the honor of his country was far greater than his life.
At a distance of about 32 miles (51 km) from the Indian border, Rashid Minhas deliberately put the nose of the plane down and caused the plane to crash near Thatta.
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