Suspicion High on Zia Sabotage : Investigators Discount Earlier Reports of Blast

Investigators of the air crash that killed President Zia ul-Haq say they suspect the plane was sabotaged before takeoff but discounted earlier reports the aircraft had exploded in flight, a news report said today.

It said authorities have detained for questioning all security personnel at the airport where the C-130 military transport plane took off Wednesday carrying Zia, U.S. Ambassador Arnold L. Raphel and 28 other people.

The aircraft crashed minutes after taking off from the eastern city of Bahawalpur and then exploded, killing all those aboard.

The Urdu-language Jang newspaper said the Pakistani investigating team sent a report to Pakistani authorities Thursday night. Sources on the team told the newspaper the pilot lost control of the plane about 300 to 400 feet off the ground when its hydraulic control system failed.

“This is suspected to have been the result of sabotage,” Jang said.

‘Combustible Material’

“The inquiry team is also looking into whether prior to takeoff someone from the ground staff may have put some combustible material in the aircraft and if that was so, why the detection equipment did not discover this material,” it said.

“The second aspect which they are looking into is that after takeoff somebody fired some rocket or missile,” the newspaper said.

The sources said the plane had tried to gain height but crashed at a 90-degree angle and then exploded. They said much of the fuselage was buried in the ground on impact.

The account contradicts earlier government reports that said the plane exploded in flight but confirmed statements by most witnesses who said the aircraft lost, then gained height and then blew up when it hit the ground.

Experts combing through 4 miles of debris-strewn countryside Thursday recovered the bodies of Zia, Raphel and a number of Pakistani generals--some identified only by their medals.

The assistant commissioner of Lodhran, the closest town to the crash site in eastern Pakistan, said all the victims had been located by Thursday night.