ISLAMABAD – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was latest head of state who was killed in a helicopter crash amid poor weather conditions in mountainous region near the Azerbaijan border.
Several heads of states have tragically died in airborne accidents, leading to significant political and social upheaval in different countries over the time. Top leaders include Dag Hammarskjöld, the Secretary-General of UN, Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi, President Zia Ul Haq, Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, were killed in air crashes.
Swedish Prime Minister Arvid Lindman – 1936
It was December 9, 1936 when Swedish Prime Minister Arvid Lindman died when a Douglas DC-2 crashed into houses near Croydon Airport in dense fog shortly after take-off.
Paraguay President General Jose Felix Estigarribia – 1940
On September 7, 1940, President of Paraguay, General Jose Felix Estigarribia, and his wife died in a plane crash caused by fog. The pilot was also killed.
Polish leader Wladyslaw Sikorski – 1943
On July 7, 1943, Polish leader Wladyslaw Sikorski, head of the government in exile during WWII, died in a plane crash in Gibraltar.
Brazil interim president Nereu Ramos – 1958
Interim President of Brazil, Nereu Ramos, died in a Cruzeiro Airlines plane crash on June 16, 1958.
Central African Republic’s President Barthelemy Boganda – 1959
It was March 29, 1959 when Central African Republic’s President Barthelemy Boganda died in a plane crash.
UN Secretary-General Hammarskjold – 1961
September 18, 1961, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold died when his plane crashed in Zambia while on a peace mission to the Congo.
Iraqi President Abdul Salam Arif – 1966
Baghdad media announced death of President Abdel Salam Arif of Iraq in an air crash near the Persian Gulf port of Basra on April 13, 1966.
Bolivian President Barrientos – 1969
On April 27, 1969, Bolivian President Rene Barrientos died in a helicopter crash in Cochabamba.
Yugoslavian PM Dzemal Bijedic – 1977
Yugoslavian Prime Minister Dzemal Bijedic died in a Learjet 25 crash on Inac Mountain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, killing him, his wife, and six others on January 18, 1977.
Mauritanian PM Ahmed Ould Bouceif – 1979
Mauritanian Prime Minister Ahmed Ould Bouceif died in a plane crash off the coast of Dakar while en route to an African summit on May 27, 1979.
Portuguese Prime Minister Francisco Sa Carneiro – 1980
On December 4, 1980, Portuguese Prime Minister Francisco Sa Carneiro and Defense Minister Adelino Amaro da Costa died in a plane crash in Lisbon just after takeoff.
Ecuadorian President Jaime Roldos Aguilera – 1981
Ecuadorian President Jaime Roldos Aguilera and Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Marco Subia Martinez died in a plane crash near the Peruvian border on May 24, 1981.
Panamanian President Omar Torrijos 1981
On July 31, 1981, Panamanian President Omar Torrijos died in a plane crash in a forest.
Mozambican President Samora Machel – 1986
Mozambican President Samora Machel and several ministers died in a twin-engine plane crash near the Mozambique-South African border on October 10, 1986.
Lebanese PM Rashid Karami – 1987
Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami died when a bomb exploded in the helicopter he was on board to Beirut on June 1, 1987.
Pakistan President Zia-ul-Haq – 1988
Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq, five generals, and US Ambassador Arnold Lewis Raphel died when their C-130 military aircraft crashed near Bahawalpur on August 18, 1988.
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski – 2004
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and his delegation died in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to pilot error on February 26, 2004.
Rwandan President Habyarimana – 1994
Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira died when their plane was shot down near Kigali, Rwanda on April 6, 1994.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski – 2010
Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others died when their plane crashed near Smolensk, Russia on April 10, 2010.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Pinera – 2024
On February 5, 2024, Former Chilean President Sebastian Pinera died when his helicopter crashed into Lake Ranco, Los Rios region, due to heavy rain and dense fog.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi – 2024
