Hyderabad: As the Haj 2018 season is set to begin within a few days, city historians and aviation heritage experts recall the unforgettable memories of India's first Haj flight carrying 18 pilgrims from Begumpet airport in Hyderabad 72 years ago. Two Deccan Airways Dakota aircraft left Begumpet airport in October 1946, the first on October 22. Even Hakimpet airport ferried Haj pilgrims from the city.
To Hyderabad goes the credit of introducing India’s first Haj flight way back in 1946. There were no flights from other major cities to Jeddah. The most sought-after mode of transport was by sea. Deccan Airways, which was one of the leading airlines in British India, organised regular chartered flights for Haj. There were Haj
flights in 1949 soon after the Police Action. During 1948 the flights of Deccan Airways were grounded due to political uncertainty, but resumed once the new government is in place,” INTACH city convener and aviation expert P Anuradha Reddy told TOI. Since Hyderabadi Hajis were on India’s first flight, they took the opportunity to visit several Islamic holy places in Syria, Egypt and Iraq.
The first flight was piloted by Captain Cox with Junior captain Munshi as second in command. Radio officer Nasir and flight engineer Lord provided technical support. Archival data reveals that the VIP in the flight was Khan Bahadur Nawab Ahmed Nawaz Jung. The 21-seater Dakota took off from Begumpet at 10.10 am on October 21, 1946 amidst slogans of Allahu-Akbar (God is the greatest). “There was huge traffic jam near the airport as thousands of people from Hyderabad and its twin Secunderabad turned up to witness the historic Haj flight,” said Anuradha Reddy, who authored a book on aviation history of Hyderabad.1st Haj flight took off with just 18 pilgrims.
26/07/18 Syed Akbar/Times of India
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To Hyderabad goes the credit of introducing India’s first Haj flight way back in 1946. There were no flights from other major cities to Jeddah. The most sought-after mode of transport was by sea. Deccan Airways, which was one of the leading airlines in British India, organised regular chartered flights for Haj. There were Haj
flights in 1949 soon after the Police Action. During 1948 the flights of Deccan Airways were grounded due to political uncertainty, but resumed once the new government is in place,” INTACH city convener and aviation expert P Anuradha Reddy told TOI. Since Hyderabadi Hajis were on India’s first flight, they took the opportunity to visit several Islamic holy places in Syria, Egypt and Iraq.
The first flight was piloted by Captain Cox with Junior captain Munshi as second in command. Radio officer Nasir and flight engineer Lord provided technical support. Archival data reveals that the VIP in the flight was Khan Bahadur Nawab Ahmed Nawaz Jung. The 21-seater Dakota took off from Begumpet at 10.10 am on October 21, 1946 amidst slogans of Allahu-Akbar (God is the greatest). “There was huge traffic jam near the airport as thousands of people from Hyderabad and its twin Secunderabad turned up to witness the historic Haj flight,” said Anuradha Reddy, who authored a book on aviation history of Hyderabad.1st Haj flight took off with just 18 pilgrims.
26/07/18 Syed Akbar/Times of India
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