On May 20, 1965 Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK705 from Dhahran was descending on the runway of Cairo airport. This was PIA’s inaugural flight to Cairo. 119 unfortunate people onboard died.
Among the victims was PIA’s trend setter air-stewardess Momi Gul Durrani.
At ATP we have done a number of posts of PIA – both on its high-flying early years (here, here, here) and its more troubled recent years (here, here, here). If ever there was a “Face of PIA,” it was Momi Gul Durrani. No PIA personality, with the exception of Air Marshal Nur Khan (who, in fairness, was already a celebrity before he came to PIA) has ever achieved such public recognition, affection and fame as Momi Durrani did.
Quoting from the Mr. Abbas Ali‘s website History of PIA:
Momi was one of PIA’s highly trained, professional and hard working cabin crew members of 1950s and 1960s. She was tall, fair with film-star looks. In short period of time she gained immense popularity and achieved status of a bright star and a legend in PIA’s glorious history.
Omar Kureishi, while writing an article in Dawn of March 30, 2003 recalled Momi in following words:
(For the inaugural PIA flight to Cairo) We had our VIP cabin crew including Momi Durrani, a Pathan girl, tall and fair with film-star looks. We had featured Momi in our advertisements. When she smiled, she made others smile.
In the first two photos, Momi Gul Durrani is seen in 1950s uniform of PIA. Once again quoting from website History of PIA (re. the first photograph):
This photos shows PIA’s legendary Air Hostess Momi Gul Durrani in 1950s uniform. This uniform was designed by Frenchman Chausee Fortaignelle who was with PIA on a 5 year deputation from Pan Am. In this design a white shalwar and dupatta were set off by a green shirt with white cuffs and collar. Shoes and bags were black. The most interesting item of this uniform was a jaunty green cap for the hostesses. This uniform design was used from 1955 to 1960
Photo to the right is the monument (graves) of 119 fateful passengers of PK705 in Cairo, Egypt.
Note: As written above, PK705 was an inaugural flight in a sense that it was the resumption of Karachi-Cairo service which had been suspended for many years until the fateful day of May 20, 1965.
References:
(1) History of PIA by Abbas Ali
(2) Dr. Ghulam Nabi Kazi’s Photo Selection at Flickr.com
(3) The Cairo Crash by Omer Kureishi
(4) Photo of the PK705 memorial is from Wikipedia
The other day some told me about PIA Cairo air accident in 1965, published in Pakistaniat, All things in Pakistan, date
back in 1960s, we were living in Drigh Road Cantt Bazar,benglows lane just adjacent to wall of PAF,Drigh road cantt bazar site, Capt Akhter, the commander of this Boeing was also living in the same lane along with his family members,
It was a great event of sorrow and grief for all of us, we remember.
Dr.Mrs.Khan,
exKLM Dutch Airline
I remember this incident on 20th may, 1965, happend at Cairo
Airport, I was working at Old terminal no 1., there was hue and
cry everwhere, news were coming very late, depended on telex
facilities, phone was very scared, how it was the horriefied days
for nearers and dearers on that day,
A Ghafoor Chowdhry,
Multan- Lohari-Gate
chowdhry
It is almost about 50years to come this sad tragic incidnet happend at Cairo Airport.
I was working in central news control room Radio Pakistan,
Bunder Road, Karachi,
We repeatdly broadcast this sad news over three days with the
details provided us by the PID and other sources,
I remember that even very fresh in my mind,
Jhanara Saeed,
The era 60s was the best peaceful years of Pakistan, Ayub Khan
Govt was very stable, economic growth was progressive, Mangla
dam, Tarbela dam was under construction, PIDC were setting
new heavey industries in Pakistan, like HMC, Harnai Wollen Mills and other many new industries.
Suddenly this tragic air accident happend in our chapter,
the 20th May 1965, was a mournful day for all we patriot
Pakistanis, we remember,
Prof.Mrs Humaira Alvi,
Karachi- Clifton
The 20th May 1965, PIA 720-B, Boeing aircrash near Cairo Airport was a national tragedy and big loss of ours National
Airline.
That day we lost very tall figures of our National Airline.
We cannot forget Gen.Hayauddin, Capt Akhter, Capt Johar,
Hostess Nasima and Airline fairy tale Momigul Durrani,
M.Suleman Sekoh,
Ex PAF-Sharah e Faisal,
Karachi.