Sajad Haider

Air Commodore (R) S.J.

1932
2025

Sajad Haider - Saviour of Lahore | Pakistan Air Force Hero

S. Sajad Haider

A True Hero

A Pakistani fighter pilot and former one-star rank officer in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). He was best known for leading a devastating Blitzkrieg on the Pathankot airbase in India on 6 September during the Indo-Pakistani air war of 1965.
Pilots briefing
Aircraft and crew
Hero Portrait

Combat Achievements

Haider personally destroyed four Indian aircraft, 11 Indian tanks and damaged another three. The formation destroyed a total of 13 Indian aircraft including 2 MiG-21s. The following day, Haider led his pilots to Srinagar Air Force Station where they destroyed another three aircraft.

AWARDS

Golden Eagle - Military Award MedalGolden Eagle
Sitara-e-Jurrat - Military Award MedalSitara-e-Jurrat
Tamgha-e-Diffa - Military Award MedalTamgha-e-Diffa
Sitara-e-Harb 65 - Military Award MedalSitara-e-Harb 65
Sitara-e-Harb 71 - Military Award MedalSitara-e-Harb 71
Tamgha-e-Jang 71 - Military Award MedalTamgha-e-Jang 71
Tamgha-e-Jang 65 - Military Award MedalTamgha-e-Jang 65
Golden Eagle - Military Award MedalGolden Eagle
Sitara-e-Jurrat - Military Award MedalSitara-e-Jurrat
Tamgha-e-Diffa - Military Award MedalTamgha-e-Diffa
Sitara-e-Harb 65 - Military Award MedalSitara-e-Harb 65

S. Sajad Haider

The Businessman

S. Sajad Haider successfully transitioned from military service to business ventures, demonstrating the same strategic thinking and leadership in entrepreneurship that he showed in the Pakistan Air Force, culminating in the defence, aviation and communication company called Cormorant.
Sajad Haider - Businessman and former Pakistan Air Force Air Commodore

As Chief of Operations during the 1965 war, I can say Squadron Leader Sajad Haider emerged as one of the outstanding commanders. Under his able and inspiring leadership, No. 19 Squadron's contribution was second to none and at times beyond all expectations. Whenever there was a difficult task to be carried out effectively, I always called upon No. 19 Squadron to do it and it was always done in the best traditions of the Pakistan Air Force.

Former C-in-C of the PAF, Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan

WORLD RECORD LOOP OF 1958

On 2 February 1958, flying in the No. 3 position, F/L Haider was part of the 16 F-86 Sabres aerobatic team led by Wg. Cdr. Mitty Masud that set a world record performing a 16-aircraft diamond loop.

Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre aircraft formation - World Record Diamond Loop 1958

Credit: S.M. Hussaini, PAF

Video thumbnail: Pakistan Air Force World Record 16-aircraft diamond loop formation, February 2, 1958

DIAMOND LOOP

16x F-86 SABRES

Feb 9, 1958

PAF - FALCONS

Demolishing Myths of Indo Pak Wars 1965-1971

Biography by
S. Sajad Haider

Book Cover: Demolishing Myths of Indo Pak Wars 1965-1971 by S. Sajad Haider
"Flight of the Falcon is about the spectacular episodes, trials and tribulations I had to face during my 28 years in the Pakistan Air Force."
BEST SELLING • HISTORICAL ACCOUNT • AIR COMBAT •BEST SELLING • HISTORICAL ACCOUNT • AIR COMBAT •BEST SELLING • HISTORICAL ACCOUNT • AIR COMBAT •

FORMATIVE YEARS

Sajad Haider spent most of his early life within a tin-roofed home, two of which were gifted to his father by Nawab Mehran Khan Bugti in a complex of eight houses that he’d built. He grew up with Akbar Bugti and his siblings, and remembered Akbar as a "stunning and fearsome person" who always called him chapeit or scrawny boy. He lived around people from various cultures and religions, and recalled life in that multicultural setting as “wonderful and uncomplicated”.

S. Sajad Haider youth

As a teenager, he aspired to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Quaid-e-Azam, who he saw at his old school in Quetta, sitting just ”An arm’s length away… (he) sat on the floor of the stage and gaped at the founder in sheer awe”, sparking the seed of his ambition to become a defender of Pakistan.

Young Haider in uniform
Sajad Haider and son
Early 
Life 
& 
Education 

"The foundation of greatness is laid in childhood"