Zaka Ullah Bhangoo

Infobox Military Person
name= Zaka Ullah Bhangoo
lived= 1948 – 2007
placeofbirth=flagicon|Pakistan Sheikhupura, Pakistan
placeofdeath=flagicon|Turkey South-eastern Turkey


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Pakistan Pakistan
serviceyears= 1968 – ?
rank= Brigadier
branch=
commands=
unit=
battles=
awards=
laterwork=Brigadier Zaka Ullah Bhangoo (1948-2007) was a helicopter pilot from the Pakistan Army who after his retirement became involved in flying microlight aircraft. He was killed in a light plane crash in Turkey in May 2007 attempting a flight from the UK to Pakistan.

He was born in 1948 in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, educated at Lawrence College Ghora Gali, and commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 1968. He flew helicopters such as the Alouette and Puma, and fixed wing aircraft such as the O-1 Bird Dog. He also flew helicopters for the Pakistan Air Force's VIP flight for 8 years [ [http://geocities.com/spiritofpakistan/ Spirit of Pakistan website] ] . In 2001 he and a co-pilot planned to fly a microlight aircraft around the world in 80 days. The plane was a US-made Star Streak aircraft with a top speed of 209 km per hour [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010617/world.htm The Tribune (Chandigarh, India) online edition for 17 June 2001.] ] . The flight did not ultimately take place due to logistical and diplomatic difficulties [ [http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8952&highlight=&sid=80a9d859f50bf44e2a513f19e24b85d6 Pakistan Aviation Forum, posted 24 May 2007] ] .

In 2007 he was piloting a light plane with an English friend, Mick Newman, on a flight from the UK to Pakistan. The pair had set off in a twin-seater Sky Arrow 650T microlight from Trabzon in Turkey but crashed in south eastern Turkey on 13 May 2007. After the crash, the Daily Telegraph reported that Osman Gunes, the Turkish interior minister was claiming that the pair were being trailed by MIT, the Turkish intelligence services. A Turkish newspaper then claimed that they mighthave been taking nuclear secrets or materials to Iran. These claims were strongly denied by the families [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/18/wcrash18.xml Daily Telegraph online edition: "Bond Sailor in death crash 'was no spy'." 19 May 2007] ] .

ee also

[http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ac5_1179308579 Video footage of recovery operations after crash in South-east Turkey]

References