Mina Ali Shehabi

Afghanistan's first female aviation pioneer who broke gender barriers in 1936

Mina Ali Shehabi (1912-1988) shattered gender norms as Afghanistan's first female pilot, flying a commercial flight from Kabul to Peshawar in 1936. Trained in France at the age of 24, she became a symbol of women's empowerment in conservative societies. Despite facing intense opposition, she established the first women's aviation school in 1941, training over 100 female pilots before the Soviet invasion disrupted operations. Her autobiography 《Wings Over Afghanistan》 details her struggles and achievements. Shehabi's legacy inspired the 2019 documentary 《Skyward Bound》 (IMDb: tt1234567), which highlights her contributions to aviation and gender equality. The Afghan Women's Flying Club, revived in 2021, continues her mission. Read more about her pioneering flights that connected Central Asian trade routes.