Michael Chowdry
Encyclopedia
Michael A. Chowdry was a Pakistani-American
businessman who became the founder of American-based cargo carrier Atlas Air
in 1992. He made the Forbes 400
list and with a net worth of $920 million, ranked among the richest American businessmen of Pakistani heritage before his death in a plane crash in 2001.
Born in Pakistan
in a Christian
family, Chowdry immigrated to England
aged 15 after his father's death. In 1976, he moved to the United States where he graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston
in 1978 with a degree in Agricultural Aviation and a burning desire to put his formal education to use. Always a flying enthusiast, he started his aerospace career flying crop dusters and selling Piper airplanes to cover his college tuition.
Chowdry expanded his business into buying and selling landing rights at constrained airports in the early 1980s. In 1984, he started a company named Aeronautics Leasing, which leased passenger airplanes to major carriers such as Pan American, British Airways
and Trans World Airlines
. In 1992, Michael Chowdry founded Atlas Air
which propelled his business to new heights. The Purchase, NY-based company operates a fleet of B747 freighters in 101 cities and 46 countries and has a market capitalization of about $1.39 billion.
In 2001, Michael Chowdry lost his life while flying his personal Czech
-made Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer with Jeff Cole, aerospace editor of the Wall Street Journal. The plane crashed in Watkins, Colorado
, killing both Chowdry and Cole. Chowdry is survived by his wife Linda, two children, two stepchildren and one cousin.
Pakistani American
A Pakistani American is any citizen or resident of the United States who has Pakistani heritage.- History in the United States :Muslim immigrants from areas that are now part of Pakistan have been migrating to America and first entered the United States as early as the eighteenth century, working...
businessman who became the founder of American-based cargo carrier Atlas Air
Atlas Air
Atlas Air, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport, New York's John F...
in 1992. He made the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
list and with a net worth of $920 million, ranked among the richest American businessmen of Pakistani heritage before his death in a plane crash in 2001.
Born in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
family, Chowdry immigrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
aged 15 after his father's death. In 1976, he moved to the United States where he graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston
University of Minnesota Crookston
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a four-year university located in Crookston, Minnesota. With 1,600 undergraduate students , it is one of five campuses in the University of Minnesota system. Currently, students from 29 countries and 40 states are enrolled .Located on the northern edge of...
in 1978 with a degree in Agricultural Aviation and a burning desire to put his formal education to use. Always a flying enthusiast, he started his aerospace career flying crop dusters and selling Piper airplanes to cover his college tuition.
Chowdry expanded his business into buying and selling landing rights at constrained airports in the early 1980s. In 1984, he started a company named Aeronautics Leasing, which leased passenger airplanes to major carriers such as Pan American, British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
and Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
. In 1992, Michael Chowdry founded Atlas Air
Atlas Air
Atlas Air, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport, New York's John F...
which propelled his business to new heights. The Purchase, NY-based company operates a fleet of B747 freighters in 101 cities and 46 countries and has a market capitalization of about $1.39 billion.
In 2001, Michael Chowdry lost his life while flying his personal Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
-made Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer with Jeff Cole, aerospace editor of the Wall Street Journal. The plane crashed in Watkins, Colorado
Watkins, Colorado
Watkins is a census-designated place in Arapahoe and Adams County, Colorado, United States. It was formerly an incorporated town. The Watkins Post Office has the ZIP Code 80137...
, killing both Chowdry and Cole. Chowdry is survived by his wife Linda, two children, two stepchildren and one cousin.