Three Pakistani-American doctors die in crash
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WASHINGTON: Three Pakistani-American physicians were killed when the small plane they were on crashed in suburban Chicago, officials said.
All three were from Karachi, two from Dow and one from Aga Khan medical universities. Thirty-four-year old Tausif Rehman, an Aga Khan graduate, was in the plane.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said their twin-engine Beechcraft Baron crashed in Palos Hills, Illinois, shortly after take-off from Chicago Midway Airport for Lawrence, Kansas.
Those on the scene said the pilot had tried desperately to land at a place where the plane would not injure anyone.
All the victims were from Karachi
Palos Hills residents told police they had seen the plane circling over their neighbourhood before it crashed as the pilot tried to save the lives of people who lived below.
“I’d like to think that’s why he chose an empty lot, the only empty space in the neighbourhood, for landing,” said the area’s Deputy Police Chief James Boie.
Dr Rehman had a private licence and was trained on single and multi-engine planes. He was a neurosurgeon at Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka, Kansas, and flew to Chicago to visit a friend.
A close friend, Ali Kanchwala, 36, and his wife, Maria Javaid, 37, were on the plane with Dr Rehman.
Dr Kanchwala was a pulmonologist at Stormont-Vail HealthCare while his wife was a cardiologist at Providence Medical Centre in Kansas City, Kansas. Both were Dow graduates.
“Dr Rehman and Dr Kanchwala were extremely valued, highly skilled and beloved members of our staff,” said Randy Peterson, president and chief executive officer of Stormont-Vail HealthCare.
“We are heart-broken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these individuals and the staff who worked closely with them.”
“Dr Rehman was a pretty good pilot, and I often flew with him,” said Ahsan Awan, a close friend of the pilot.
“He was always very careful. I have no idea how this could have happened.”
Pakistan’s Consul General in Chicago Faisal Tirmizi told Dawn that the consulate had contacted the families and friends of the three physicians and some of them were coming to Chicago.
Dr Rehman’s parents were coming from Saudi Arabia.
It was not clear if they would be buried in Chicago or be sent to Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2014
