Rashid Minhas


Rashid Minhas

Born(1951-02-17)17 February 1951
Karachi, Sindh, Dominion of Pakistan
Died20 August 1971(1971-08-20) (aged 20)
Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan (now Sujawal District)
Buried
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Air Force
Years of service13 March 1971 - 20 August 1971
RankPilot officer
Service numberPak/5602
UnitNo. 2 Squadron
Battles/warsBangladesh Liberation War 
Awards Nishan-e-Haider
Alma materSt Patrick's High School, Karachi
Website"Rashid Minhas (Shaheed)".

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas NH (Urdu: راشد منہاس) was a Pakistani pilot in the Pakistan Air Force. Minhas was the only PAF officer to receive the highest valour award, the Nishan-e-Haider. He was also the youngest person and the shortest-serving officer to have received this award. During a routine training mission in August 1971, Minhas attempted to gain control of his jet trainer when his superior officer Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman hijacked the plane in an attempt to defect to India to join the Liberation war of Bangladesh but crashed near the Thatta District, Sindh in Pakistan.[1]

  1. ^ "PAF pays homage to Rashid Minhas Shaheed". The Express Tribune. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.