Pakistan Army Web Portal
Last Flight of Night Stalkers
Colonel Arshad Amin
MI-17 had been hauling troops. rations. medicines and life saving equipment for men deployed at isolated places. Having burnt enough fuel helicopter could carry more load than the available seats. Passengers were many but only lucky ones could get seats, still few occupied floor for their last journey to Peshawar Havildar Ali Ashgar punched engines for startup under keen eves of Captain Sohail Akbar and ever observant co-pilot Captain Khurram Shezad. Havildar Hazrat Hussain, the crew chief and Asif; the scanner were standing outside with their thumbs up to assist starting, not knowing, this might be their last thumbs up signal to any helicopter. Rotors moved slowly, gathered momentum and helicopter lifted off slowly to its eternal journey.
Crew of the helicopter had a tough day. They had planned to be at Peshawar before sunset with all aboard for a well deserved free evening. With Peshawar in sight, just nineteen miles away, the crew initiated a descend. This was the time when everything went out of control. Helicopter wavered; producing strange noises, unmanageable by the crew and went down with all its passengers and crew. Smoke rose, ashes burnt till the time troops on ground could reach them. They were too late to rescue anyone. A strong troop of officers and men had gone down in the line of duty.
Crew of the helicopter was a strange combination of men of substance. Captain Sohail Akbar who hailed from Bahawalpur was an ever volunteer to be assigned tasks once many opted for a day off. He was from that rare breed of pilots who would extend their tenure of duty in anticipation of operations, thinking that new comer might not be familiar with ground situation. A month back, when he was committed in an extensive operational flying, he received a mission of air dropping the officers and men of Special Services Group (SSG) in a nearby drop zone. He kept sipping water and remained glued to his seat in cockpit till he had burnt all the fuel and last man had done his jump. Such was his dedication to flying that he carried alongwith him.
Captain Khurram Shezad had just bought a piece of land in his native village Chak No 247 EB in which he is buried now. A silent, composed young man who ardently went for flying; is still cherished by his colleagues and officers of Punjab Regiment where he was commissioned. His father sat by his grave recalling all appointments with heart surgeons in Rawalpindi that his son would never miss. His mother still waits for call on her cellular phone which her son would make despite a days tiring flying. He left his whole village proud and in return the indebted villagers have decided to name their village after Khurram Shezad.
Havildar Ali Asghar was not flying in his unit at the time of his Shahadat. He had gone on extended tenure of duty in operational area. He was such a capable flight engineer that every pilot would desire him to be in the cockpit. He went to his home after a long awaited leave not on his feet but on the shoulders of his brethrens in arms, He is buried in Kandiaro (Sindh) under asylum of Shah Bhitai; making him proud being such a dedicated and brave son of the soil.
Havildar Hazrat Hussain and Havildar Asif were a set of dedicated men in the rear of the helicopter. So alert they were to developing situations around helicopter that captain of the helicopter could literally close his eyes and land in demanding situations. They had been together for night flying, in joint exercises, in operations and under fire. They went together with their favourite steed that they had been nursing for years in Army Aviation.
These great men, matchless heroes and valiant Shuhada have set great examples to be followed. We are proud of them.
