Major Tahir Hussain Khan was born into a proud military family to Afzar Begum and Sarver Hussain Khan. His father had also served the IAF. His younger brother Mahmood is serving with the IAF and the elder brother Mazhar is serving with the Indian Army. Brought up in a family of military background, Major Khan had the passion to serve his country, from a very young age. He finished his schooling in Kendriya Vidyalaya, and later graduated from AV College in Hyderabad.
Major Khan made his way up through the Army Cadet College (ACC) of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) and was commissioned to 4 Gorkha Rifles. It was reported by his former CO that during his infantry attachment, he performed well along the LoC spending most of his time with the boys in forwarding posts. He had joined the IAF in 2002-03 as a technician. Finally, in 2010, Major Khan received the revered pilot’s wings in Army Aviation. He was commissioned as an aviator with the 202 Army Aviation squadron. Major Khan got married in May 2014 and moved to Kashmir with his wife when he got posted there.

Army Air Operation: 10 Feb 2015

Major Tahir Hussain Khan took part in many operations and carried out many successful missions. By 2015, Major Khan had evolved into an ace pilot having experience in various air operations.

On February 10, 2015, Major Tahir Hussain Khan along with his Captain of the aircraft Lt Col Rajesh Gulati was tasked for an operational mission and took off from Manasbal at 7 PM. Both the pilots were experienced and had undertaken similar missions earlier many times. They had flown extensively during flood relief operations in Kashmir and had braved stones thrown at their chopper.

Major Khan was flying the Dhruv helicopter, the indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopter -a twin-engine aircraft which weighs about five tons and is manufactured by Government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. After flying for an hour after take off the helicopter developed some serious snag and crashed near the Kurshu forest at Safapora of Bandipora district in J & K. Major Tahir Hussain Khan and Lt Col Gulati could not survive the crash and two committed soldiers laid down their lives in the service of the nation.

Major Tahir Hussain Khan was an ace pilot, a dedicated soldier, and a great human being. He will always be remembered for his service and sacrifice for the nation. Major Tahir Hussain Khan is survived by his wife, parents and two brothers.

Source:https://www.honourpoint.in/