Abdul Ghaffar Mahmud (born 01 March 1934)[1] is a former chief of the Bangladesh Air Force.

[2] For his role in keeping the situation under control and securing the lives of every single passenger, the Japanese government conferred upon him the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star" awards.

Upon his return to Pakistan he was appointed as a member of Central Aircraft Accident Investigation Board.

After completing his staff course he was posted to PAF HQ as the Deputy Director of Flying Training in July 1971.

After the 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état and assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Chief of Air Staff, A. K. Khandker, was removed and posted to a diplomatic mission.

[4] Mahmud succeeded Bashar, who died in a plane crash, as Chief of Air Staff.

In April 1976 he was made the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations and Training) at the BAF HQ.

[5] He was part of a delegation that asked President Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem to relinquish power in favor of General Ziaur Rahman.

[6][7][8] During the hostage crises on 1 October 1977 Bangladesh Air Force mutiny took place, Group Captain Ansar Chowdhury was killed beside Mahmud.

Abdul Matin and Wing Commander Anwar Ali Shaikh were also killed in the mutiny.

[4] Mahmud became the minister for food, health and rehabilitation in the cabinet of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1982.

[3] In April 2017, Mahmud was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star for his role in negotiating with the hijackers of Japan Airlines Flight 472.