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Retired agent Alfred Finch served in the FBI for 22 years. During his career, he was assigned to a variety of investigative and executive positions handling public corruption, kidnapping, extortion, bank robbery, and terrorism cases. In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Al Finch reviews his investigation of a 1988 plane crash that took the lives of Pakistani President Zia, a U.S. Ambassador, and 28 others. Al Finch found himself involved in international intrigue and misinformation when possible evidence that the Pakistani C-130 crash was an accident was suppressed, and the unproven theory that the cause was a terrorist event was put forward instead. Al Finch finished his career as the Legal Attaché to Cairo and later as a Deputy Chief with the U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol. Upon retiring from the FBI, he was a contract employee with the FBI assigned to the National Counter Terrorism Center. He later served as Director of Security for the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, in Springfield, Virginia where he set up personnel security apparatus for all radio and television employees and the physical plants that housed them. He is currently a contract employee with the Voice of America.
Supervisory Special Agent (Retired)
Alfred Finch
9/10/1978 – 7/31/2000
The following are links to newspaper articles about the 1988 Pakistani C-130 crash that took the lives of the Pakistani President Zia and U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel:
New York Times – 8/18/1988: ZIA OF PAKISTAN KILLED AS BLAST DOWNS PLANE; U.S. ENVOY, 28 OTHERS DIE
Washington Post – 8/18/1988: ZIA, U.S. ENVOY KILLED IN PAKISTAN PLANE BLAST
LA Times – 8/25/1988: Theories Vary on C-130 Crash; One Is the ‘Mango Bomb’ : Zia’s Death Brings Plenty of Speculation
Jerri, I met an “Al Finch” in 1968 a Offutt Air Force NE. He was an Elite Guard at the Strategic Air Command. Is this the same person?
I’ll check with Al and let you know. Thanks for listening!
This interview with Mr. Finch is extremely well done. Jerri, you are a fine podcaster because you listen and allow the guest to articulate their thoughts. I was unfamiliar with the nuances of this case and learned much. Bravo.
Thank you for taking the time to write and let me know you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate your kind words.
Jerri, just finished listening to your pod cast with Wayne Davis, whom I had the pleasure of meeting early in my career! It was truly fascinating and enlightening. Every new/old agent should listen to it. I was in the Bureau for 30 years and was not aware of a lot of his historic facts. I’m in the very early stages of writing a book about my experience in and out of the Bureau. Look forward to future pod cast re the FBI. Be Safe;
I’m especially proud of my interview with Wayne Davis. He was a mentor who helped guide my career. —- Jerri