From India's Sanjay Gandhi to Iran's Ebrahim Raisi, list of world leaders killed in air crashes
PTC Web Desk: Air crashes involving world leaders almost always attract intense debate and speculation, since the circumstances surrounding these incidents are thoroughly investigated and analysed. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi is the most recent addition to the list of world leaders killed in the air crashes.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in the country's mountains Sunday night. In a statement issued on Monday (May 20, 2024), the Iranian government stated that operations will continue "without the slightest disruption" despite the death of President Raisi. "We assure the loyal nation that the path of service will continue with the tireless spirit of Ayatollah Raisi," the statement said, emphasising that government operations would continue unabated.
Sanjay Gandhi, the son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, died on June 23, 1980, after he lost control of his plane at Delhi's Safdarjung Airport.
Madhavrao Scindia, an esteemed Indian politician and Congress leader, was killed in a plane crash on September 30, 2001. The tragedy occurred near Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh when his Beechcraft King Air C90 caught fire in midair.
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan's sixth President, died on August 17, 1988. His C-130 Hercules crashed just after departure from Bahawalpur. The cause of the crash is unknown, with speculations ranging from mechanical failure to sabotage.
Rashid Karami, Lebanon's frequently elected Prime Minister, played a key role in the Lebanese Civil War. On June 1, 1987, a bomb exploded in his helicopter on the way to Beirut, killing Karami and injuring several others on board.
Former President of Chile Sebastian Pimera died in February 2024 after his helicopter crashed into a lake in southern Chile. He was a prominent figure in Chilean politics, having served two nonconsecutive terms as president.
Salomon Arvid Achates Lindman, a Swedish rear admiral and two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, was a prominent conservative politician. Lindman was killed on December 9, 1936, when his Douglas DC-2 crashed into buildings near Croydon Airport in the United Kingdom shortly after takeoff in thick fog.
Ramon Magsaysay, the Philippines' seventh president, was recognised for his strong anti-corruption stance and populist appeal. His presidency ended abruptly on March 17, 1957, when his aircraft, a C-47 nicknamed "Mt. Pinatubo," collided with Mount Manunggal in Cebu. Only one of the 25 passengers survived.
Nereu Ramos briefly served as Brazil's interim president. He died on June 16, 1958, when he was onboard a Cruzeiro do Sul aircraft that crashed near Curitiba Afonso Pena International Airport in Parana.
The second President of Iraq, Abdul Salam Arif, was a key figure in the 1958 revolution that toppled the monarchy. On April 13, 1966, Arif was killed when his Iraqi Air Force plane, a de Havilland DH.104 Dove, crashed near Basra.
Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, Brazil's 26th President and an influential figure in the former military dictatorship, died on July 18, 1967. Castelo Branco died after his Piper PA-23 Aztec collided with a Brazilian Air Force Lockheed T-33 in mid-air shortly after leaving office. His death was surrounded by controversy and conspiracy theories.
- PTC NEWS
