Muhammad Sidqi Mahmud was the commanding general of the Egyptian Air Force during the Six-Day War in 1967. He and the other senior Egyptian commanders, including Field Marshal Amer and General Anwar al-Qadi were in an airplane en route to Bir al-Thamada to inspect the troops stationed in the Sinai when the Israeli offensive Operation Focus began on the morning of 5 June. The bulk of Egypt's combat aircraft were destroyed in the attack.