1988 Pakistan Air Force C-130B crash

On 17 August 1988, a Lockheed C-130B Hercules operated by the Pakistan Air Force with thirty people onboard crashed in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Among the victims were President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, his close confidant CJCSC Akhtar Abdur Rahman, ISPR director-general Siddique Salik and United States ambassador Arnold Lewis Raphel.

Zia's death was officially announced a few hours later on Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Network by Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, who assumed the presidency. Zia's state funeral took place at the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, drawing around a million mourners.

Background

On 17 August 1988, Zia, with his senior delegation, arrived in Bahawalpur where he was joined by the two American Christian missionaries to visit the local convent to condole the death of an American nun murdered in Bahawalpur a few days before making a brief stop at the Tamewali Test Range. After witnessing and viewing the live fire demonstration of the U.S. Army's M1A1 Abrams at the Tamewali Test Range, President Zia and his delegation left by army helicopter. The demonstration was organized by Major-General Mahmud Ali Durrani, then-GOC of the 1st Armoured Division of the Armoured Corps as the M1A1 Abrams, the standard U.S. Army's weapon system was expected to join service with the Pakistan Army.

Flight crew

Wing Commander Mashhood Hassan – Aircraft Commander / Lead Pilot

Flight Lieutenant Sajid – Co-Pilot

Flight Lieutenant Naeem – Navigator

Squadron Leader Zulfiqar – Flight Engineer