(23.2.1957, Pirabilqasim village of Ismayilli region – 11.10.1992, Safian village of Lachin direction) – National Hero of Azerbaijan (5.2.1993, after his death)
He was born in Pirabilqasim village of Ismayilli region on the 23rd of February, 1957. His family moved to Baku after he was born. Therefore Arastun studied at school # 220 in Nizami district of Baku city. He entered School of Civil Aviation in Leningrad province in 1975. After graduating from the Aviation School in 1978, he started his career as a mechanic – technician on the board of the plane AN – 2 within Zabrat Aviation Company of Azerbaijani Airlines. He was not only a good diligent employee but also a master of weightlifting and earned a lot of medal both within Azerbaijan and Post Soviet Union.
He had a course on the improvement of rofessional skills in Omsk city in 1989 and became a flight mechanic on the board of the helicopter – Mİ-2. Later in 1990 he was sent for anther course of improvement of professional skills in Kremenchug city of Ukraine. And after this course he was appointed as a flight mechanic of helicopter– MI-8.
He then became a member of the crew that were actively involved both in the operation within Garabagh and bordering regions with Armenia.
Arastun along with the other crew members of MI – 8 helicopters, was in the battle zones many times and was actively involved in taking civilians to safer places and bringing ammunition and food for the soldiers who were in the combat zones.
The 28th of January, 1992 was his last flight to the front line. When he was flying through Aghdam – Shusha route and carrying civilians from the frontline, his helicopter was shot with a missile. Arastun Mahmudov died heroically along with all the crew members and the civilians that were on board.
He was married and had three children.
Mahmudov Arastun Ispandi was posthumously awarded the title of the “National Hero of Azerbaijan” by the decree # 337 of the president of the republic of Azerbaijan on the 25th of November, 1992.
He was buried in Alley of Martyrs in Baki city. The school # 220 where he once studied is after the hero and there is also a memorial plague in front of the building where he used to live.
http://www.milliqahramanlar.az/hero/204