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ISLAMABAD: Three top Pakistani-American physicians were killed when their private double engine Beech craft Baron crashed Mondaynight at 2240 hours in Palos Hills, a city in the US state of Illinois.
The three were on board when the plane crashed in a Palos Hills neighbourhood soon after it took off from Chicago’s Midway International Airport.
"The three Pakistani-American physicians who died in the air crash were pulmonologist Dr Ali Kanchwala, cardiologist Dr Maria Javed, also wife of Dr Ali Kanchwala and neurosurgeon Dr Tauseef Rehman — all based in Lawrence, Kansas," Pakistan's Consul General in Chicago Faisal Tirmizi told Dawn.
"They had gone to Chicago for a shopping trip and were returning in the evening when the aircraft crashed," Tirmizi said.
The Pakistani consulate has established the contact with the families and friends of the three deceased to provide necessary assistance.
The consulate also got in touch with Deputy Police Chief of Palos Hills James Boie once the news was received.
According to initial reports, it appeared that Dr Tauseef who was flying the aircraft deliberately crashed it in an open area in order to protect houses in a heavily populated area.
"It came through the trees and missed all the houses," said Palos Hills Deputy Police Chief James Boie, adding that the plane's occupants were dead when first responders arrived at the scene.
The plane was headed from Chicago Midway International Airport towards Lawrence, Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Tirmizi said the funeral of Dr Ali Kanchwala and Dr Maria Javed was likely to be held in the US, whereas Dr Tauseef Rehman’s remains are to be sent to Pakistan for burial.
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On DawnNews
Comments (90) Closed
Oct 14, 2014 11:48am
Very sad news, may Allah SWT forgive them, bless them with His mercy and grant them place in Jannat-ul-Firdous (ameen).
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Oct 14, 2014 11:50am
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun.
May ALLAH bless them with maghfirah.
"According to initial reports, it appeared that Dr Taufeeq who was flying the aircraft deliberately crashed it in an open area in order to protect houses in a heavily populated area."
They'll definitely get the reward for this act of kindness.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:01pm
Its Tausif, not taufeeq
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Oct 14, 2014 12:02pm
May Allah have mercy on them and grant them Jannah.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:10pm
Sad news, those scientists were for humanity.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:14pm
we are deeply saddened by the news. Our heart felt condolences to families of the departed.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:23pm
Sad... RIP.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:26pm
May God rest their souls in peace. Ameen
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Oct 14, 2014 12:34pm
May Allah give them them highest rank in Jannah (Heaven), and give beautiful patience to family and friends.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:34pm
We all belong to Allah, & will return to Him.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:44pm
@Anup Physician are doctors.
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Oct 14, 2014 12:55pm
@Anup
they are doctors not scientists
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Oct 14, 2014 01:05pm
Salute to the bravery, "deliberately crashed it in an open area in order to protect houses in a heavily populated area."
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Oct 14, 2014 01:51pm
Very sad news.
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Oct 14, 2014 01:53pm
Very saddening. Loss to humanity.
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Oct 14, 2014 01:59pm
Tausif Rehman MD FACS is what we say as Pakistanis a true child of our soil. His devotion to the profession of medicine as a skilled clinician in the area of neurosurgery is one thing but his dedication to humanity is summarized in the maturity displayed by crashing his plane in an area away from human life rather than attempt to land or even crash where casualties would erupt, during bad weather and night time. Few if any pilots can carry this maneuver out at and in Pakistan military pilots are only taught this. it ever in practice that is rarely ever done. As per Dawn newspaper, he is to be brought back to the nation to have his namaz e janaza read by fellow citizens and brethren as his legacy and be buried in soil that he is truely a part of being devoted posterity that at home and abroad serves and represents true spirit of dedication and devotion of being an honest Pakistani professional.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:23pm
@Kiwi_Pk thanks mate, doctors are even more precious to any society.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:39pm
very sad news...
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Oct 14, 2014 02:40pm
Knew Tausif in person. He was such a bright young smart person who would lighten up the surrounding with his jovial & friendly nature. Even if you had met him first time, after few minutes you'd feel like you two have been friends for long time. He was a very down to earth, no frills and no show off person who lived the life to the fullest and enjoyed every moment of it. On the professional side, he attained so much success in such a short period of time, being a top notch highly skilled neurosurgeon at a young age of just around 32.
I guess good people die young. May Allah Taálah have mercy on all 3 departed souls and give them eternal peace in their graves and in the hereafter and give the bereaved families the strenght to cope with such tragic losses. Ameen
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Oct 14, 2014 02:41pm
Too much money to have private personal planes can be dangerous some times..God bless all of them.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:51pm
R.I.P.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:53pm
Very sad, my heart go out to victims and their family. Life is a travel there is no final destination. And we never know when it will end. We must do our best while we alive, we never know if we going to see tomorrow???
Sincerely, Ashraf Mirza (USA)
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Oct 14, 2014 02:57pm
Dawn his name was Tausif Rehman. Aga Khan University Graduate.
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Oct 14, 2014 02:59pm
It's Dr Tausif Rehman
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Oct 14, 2014 03:24pm
@commenthere Does not matter if they are scientists or doctors , good people were killed in this tragedy.
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Oct 14, 2014 03:36pm
Sad to read this. Its a precious loss to the humanity. Knowing very well how difficult it is to study and become a doctor. If 3 such precious human beings are taken away, just like that, in a moment. Imagine what would be the state of their near and dears.
May Allah have mercy on them and grant them Jannat.
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Oct 14, 2014 03:57pm
Top american physicians? Says who?
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Oct 14, 2014 04:00pm
Unnecessary adventurism costs this...huge loss in remittance for Pakistan ...
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Oct 14, 2014 04:34pm
Very sad and unfortunate. Dr Tausif saved so many lives so as to avoid a crash in the populated area. May Allah bless his soul and Dr Ali and Maria's soul in peace and give them the highest place in heaven. Aamen. We are all so proud of you Doctor Tausif and will always remember you. May Allah give courage and strength to their families to bear this tragic and sudden loss. Aamen.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:03pm
Sad to see this. Even sadder that I can't think of a way to blame this on the Sharif Monarchy
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Oct 14, 2014 05:27pm
INNA LILLA HAY WA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON.
From Almighty God we all come and to HIM we all have to return one day, sooner or later. Successful are only those who have spent this transient life in-line with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the great Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
May God Almighty bless the departed souls of the three great Pakistani-American physicians who died in the tragic air crash in the greater Chicago-IL. area yesterday namely Dr. Ali Kanchwala, his wife Dr. Maria Javed and Dr Taufeequr Rehman in the Jannatul Firdous and grant their families, friends, associates, peers, pals, patients, admirers, supporters, neighborhood, clan, tribe and APPNA fraternity members the courage and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:41pm
@Kiwi_Pk Physicians are physical training instructors not doctors.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:51pm
Sorry to hear the news. I am surprised that a twin engine Beechcraft decided to fly at that hour.
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Oct 14, 2014 05:51pm
Dr.Tausif ur Rehman was very bright student of Agha Khan university & belong to a very respected family. His father & my teacher Dr. Atiq ur Rehman was Professor & Head of Department of Neurosurgery in Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center Karachi in early 80. What a thorough gentleman & kind teacher he was really. ALLAH reward this young neurosurgeon a highest placer in Jannat. AMEEN
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Oct 14, 2014 05:53pm
So sad. Doctors make bad pilots. Full of hubris and over confident in their ability to fly and navigate. They tend to have high mortality rate in air accidents.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:01pm
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:16pm
May Allah forgive them, have mery on theim and grant them Jannat. Sad to hear loss of briliant people.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:17pm
May their soul rest in peace
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Oct 14, 2014 06:18pm
@Sahib Sultan Let's not judge or focus on the circumstances under which these individuals died, BUT rather remember them for who they were and what a loss it is to their families and Pakistan as a nation.
I knew Tausif personally in AKU. He was an all-rounder; brilliant, driven, ambitious, jovial, kind, down to earth and full of life. Besides his superb academic achievements as a neurosurgeon (amongst a handful from Pakistan) he was a wonderful individual with the biggest and kindest of hearts. He was always there for his friends and for anyone in need. His kind soul, every-ready big smile and larger than life personality will always be remembered. People like him are not born every day. May Allah bless his soul and give his family the strength to deal with such a tragic loss. R.I.P Tausif.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:41pm
INNA LILLA HAY WA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON.
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Oct 14, 2014 06:50pm
@azwa It depends on which side of the pond you are. In the big scheme of things it doesn't matter as they were a neurosurgeon, respiratory physician (Pulmonologist) and a cardiologist. But most of all they were friends and humans.
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Oct 14, 2014 07:14pm
@mian Allah gives people money and you should ask for forgiveness for your jealousy. We should take pride in such accomplished Pakistanis and pray for their equal success in the hereafter.
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Oct 14, 2014 07:15pm
@azwa Sorry, just to correct you: physicians are doctors.
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Oct 14, 2014 07:29pm
Shocking news. May Allah forgive them and bless them with his kindness. Ameen
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Oct 14, 2014 07:43pm
@Burki: You are right good people die young. That's why you are still around.
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Oct 14, 2014 07:54pm
@Ganga Din, please lay off your sarcasm. Loss of human life deserves a better response.
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Oct 14, 2014 08:06pm
@Sahib Sultan
Is there any data to back this up or did you pull this statistic out of thin air?
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Oct 14, 2014 08:12pm
@mian ... There is nothing wrong with having money or private planes as these young people must have worked very hard to earn the distinguished positions in their respective professions. It all comes down to the fact that it was their time to leave this world. Please be sensitive to their families and friends before making such comments. May their souls be blessed with Allah's mercy.
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Oct 14, 2014 10:11pm
VERY SAD NEWS
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Oct 15, 2014 12:40am
I am sorry and saddened this tragic accident.. However , it's the 2nd time in last couple of months that weekend Pakistani -Americans flyers have died in air crashes. I wonder as to their flying experience and their aircraft health. And theri attitude. As an instructor pilot in the PAF, I used to tell my students that the chances of surivival from a fighter jet is more than from a lowely piton Engine aircraft , if it fails on you. It kills as bad.
Please weekend flyers be careful ...go through all the drills before going up solo.
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Oct 15, 2014 03:28am
Very sad news
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Oct 15, 2014 04:51am
May Allah have mercy on them and grant them Jannah.
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Oct 15, 2014 06:26am
Over 150 doctors are killed in Karachi city in last few years. Ahmadi doctors are target in Pakistan. Also, hundreds of doctors and health workers were killed in 1971 East-Pakistan.
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Oct 15, 2014 08:15pm
So three US based doctors die, God bless their souls, and we see all these readers paying homage.
When ordinary Pakistanis died of exhaustion at the so called PTI freedom rallies, not a single mention of it.
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Oct 15, 2014 10:06pm
Dr. Tausif Rehman preformed three surgeries on my L-3 vertebra. When no one believed that I would every walk again Dr. Rehman noted that he believed in miracles. His love to heal people remains a constant influence in my daily life. I walk because of his work. I am so sorry for the loss his death will bring to many. I know his work however reached and will continue to reach beyond his life.
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Oct 16, 2014 12:54am
Deepest sympathy & condolences to the families of young physicians, they will be missed by their friends & patients.
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Oct 16, 2014 02:29am
Sad sad news. May god rest them in peace. Our sincere condolences to the families.
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Oct 16, 2014 05:54am
May Allah give them a place in jannat. I knew Maria and Ali personally. Wonderful people. Have heard only good things about Tausif. They were so young and had so much more to achieve in life. Rest in peace.
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Oct 16, 2014 06:20am
Ina lillahy wa ina alehy rajyoon.............it is shocking news for me because I new tousif `s family His Father Dr. Atiq ur Rehman and Mrs Shamima (mother) ...................Allah Pak says who died in accident, like burn/fire , sink in the water, died in the water any kind of accident , died with stomach problems " they are SHAHEED" and don`t say killed or died, they are alive.
it is my heartiest condolence to their parents that all three kids they did shaheed in plane crash.
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Oct 16, 2014 06:22am
May Allah bless them with highest level in Jannah. Tauseef was such a kind and humble person. He belongs to a respected family and was brought up by his parents with values. He survived a serious car crash previously. May Allah give patience to his family aameen.
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Oct 16, 2014 06:32am
I just returned from the funeral of Dr Ali Asghar Kanchwala. A doctor who used to fly with Dr Tauseef ur Rehman confirmed that first he dumped all fuel and then nosedived into the vacant lot in eight blocks to ensure no casualties on ground. His last act of compassion. Even in death, he saved lives. A physicians' physician. Lets give him a warm send off at MCC Mosque after Zuhr at 1330 hrs tomorrow
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Oct 16, 2014 06:32am
I just returned from the funeral of Dr Ali Asghar Kanchwala. A doctor who used to fly with Dr Tauseef ur Rehman confirmed that first he dumped all fuel and then nosedived into the vacant lot in eight blocks to ensure no casualties on ground. His last act of compassion. Even in death, he saved lives. A physicians' physician. Lets give him a warm send off at MCC Mosque after Zuhr at 1330 hrs tomorrow
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Oct 16, 2014 06:32am
I just returned from the funeral of Dr Ali Asghar Kanchwala. A doctor who used to fly with Dr Tauseef ur Rehman confirmed that first he dumped all fuel and then nosedived into the vacant lot in eight blocks to ensure no casualties on ground. His last act of compassion. Even in death, he saved lives. A physicians' physician. Lets give him a warm send off at MCC Mosque after Zuhr at 1330 hrs tomorrow
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Oct 16, 2014 10:16am
What a tremendous tragedy. As most of the comments say, may Allah forgive any and all sins of the three deceased, and rest them in Jannat-ul-Firdous. I believe this type of death is considered "Shahadat:. In addition may Allah give all the family members the strength to bear this loss. Lets all pray for the departed souls and for the families.
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Oct 16, 2014 10:23am
@Ganga Din Whether top or bottom physicians...what difference does this MAKE! These three are dead and gone! Why do you have to show your dirty Indian mentality against any Pakistani, or any thing related to Pakistan. Please learn to live with peace and love with all humanity.
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Oct 16, 2014 01:23pm
@mian, Too much money with private planes? There are millions in US with too much money with private planes. The have earned too much money honestly. Too much money earning by working is Blessings of Allah SWT. Their profession was to save people. Even when dying they saved so many on the ground. May Allah SWT rest these souls in Peace. Aameen.
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Oct 16, 2014 02:01pm
@Ganga Din, you don't know what the people are talking about. Start again from KG.
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Oct 16, 2014 02:12pm
I did not mean to say anything negative as it was taken. may Allah bless souls of all three deceased valuable persons .still i apologize if someone sensed it wrong.We all have to go one day.
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Oct 16, 2014 03:01pm
@A Pakistani citizen
One correction. All pilots are taught to land in open spaces , not only military pilots. When I was getting my commercial pilot's licence in 1993, we simulated engine failures and made emergency landings. By the banks of the Naguman River near Peshawar. It was part of the syllabus and we had to demonstrate it to the Inspector from Civil Aviation who checked us out, before we were issued our licences.
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Oct 16, 2014 09:14pm
So sad. RIP. :(
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Oct 17, 2014 01:30am
@DR MOHAN LAL CHELLANI My daughters had known both Dr. Maria Javed and Husband. The couple too good to describe here, down to earth, no chip on their shoulder, true to human spirit, very charitable and always helping people. It has been very rough for us to take such loss. RIP
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Oct 17, 2014 04:52am
@Kiwi_Pk
An person lettered in science can be a scientist, be that engineer, physicist, physician, surgeon, biologist, chemist etc. The point here is humanity lost three souls working for the betterment of others. May God grant them eternal peace.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:31pm
Tausif is a living legend since if confirmed what he did; he will be the only civilian pilot in Pakistan's history to have exceuted a vertical approach for nose landing/dive to prevent mass casualties on the ground. According to what I saw on various networks he kept circling and also checkign out roads but to prevent accidents with moving vehicles and pedestrians, he chose to go for the green belted land just like Flt Lieutant Rashid Ahmed Khan went into a non-populated area, choosing not to eject. The maneuver Tausif carried out is only taught to military pilots and not civilian yet it was second natured as his love for humanity can never be forgotten. In his passion for helping people share Maria and Ali, as they laid their lives with his in order to achieve a noble cause.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:44pm
This is very sad news. In this day and age such events are occurring very frequently all over the world. Except for people who are very close to the families, all return to their normal lives easily and keep on living until, God Forbid, something similar happens to them.
We should pray to Allah SWT to protect all of us from such sudden events of irreparable injuries and / or deaths. The prescribed masnoon morning and evening supplications are a good source of protection from all such events InshaAllah.
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Oct 17, 2014 08:09pm
Private planes are the most notorious things to fly. Usually maintenance is poor and equipment is so old that it is ready to fall about. The best alternative is to fly commercial.
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Oct 17, 2014 10:48pm
Great remains great both in life and thereafter and this is what exactly Dr Tauseef has proved to be honest. Being a doctor he was serving the humanity so undoubtedly he was a great person and then while flying the plane when he realized that he may hit populated area he drifted the plane to an open area to avoid killing others and in such pursuit he died but saved many lives again proves that he was a great person. I pray all the three departed souls rest in peace, aameen. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Diplomat / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Oct 17, 2014 11:25pm
@mian dont buy bell, beach craft and cesna planes. These planes are not good for flying even if there is a 10 km wind. Embraer luxury have good safety record
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Oct 18, 2014 01:15pm
Such a great loss. RIP
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Oct 19, 2014 05:51am
@Sahib Sultan the fact that he nose dived and crashed in the only vacant lot in a densely populated area thereby saving many lives when his own death was imminent is a testament to how good a pilot and human being he was...
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Oct 19, 2014 10:20am
@Haroon Yes you are absolutely correct ! Physician are Doctors
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Oct 19, 2014 09:23pm
@M. Emad
face of Pakistan.
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Oct 19, 2014 11:48pm
Sad.
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Oct 20, 2014 05:51am
May All Mighty grant Them Jannah and give their family and friends patience to bear the lose..Ameen
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Oct 20, 2014 07:35am
@Pragmatist You don't know what you are talking about. All aircraft, including private aircraft in the US have to pass very strict safety and maintenance inspections to be considered airworthy. Aircraft accidents in the US are very rare when compared to other forms of transportation. May their souls rest in peace.
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Oct 20, 2014 06:43pm
May Allah grant all three the highest level of Jannah. "Don't say of those who are killed in the way of Allah, they are dead but they are alive, getting rizq from their Rabb" (Qur'an) This type of death is considered shadath ki mauth according to the hadith literature and ijma of scholars.
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Oct 20, 2014 07:30pm
@Iqbal Bhai How is this bravery? Although it suggests they didnot believe in killing Kafirs to ensure a seat in Jannat.
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Oct 21, 2014 07:51am
@AKU grad Sad News. The interesting part for most of the graduates of AKU is to have wings to fly out to the land of glamour immediately after graduation, they intend not to serve the locals, what a pity
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Oct 21, 2014 08:43am
@Ganga Din
I say so! I knew them personally
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Oct 21, 2014 11:00am
We are already short of Pakistani greats and now this. It's a great loss to Pakistan. May Allah rest their souls in peace.
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Oct 21, 2014 04:46pm
@Pervez That night the weather in chicago and surrounds including kansas was very bad, even some of the commercial flights decided to cancel flying, i dont know why they chose to still fly. Weather played a huge role in the crash.
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