Massey had already exited down the slide just moments earlier, taking three unaccompanied children with him. There was one airhostess there helping people jump. "The flight attendant smiled throughout the incident despite the fear surrounding her," Mitra said. Sixteen-month-old Melissa Trahan, on stretcher, is rushed from the scene of the crash of Pan Am Flight 759 in Kenner, La. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when the airhostess gave up her life in the line of duty. More information will be provided on submitting a victim impact statement at a later date. But U.S. consulate officers go out to hospitals and airports to help U.S. citizens in distress. Crew list PanAm *Grubbs, Victor Captain *Bragg, Robert First Officer *Warns, George W. Flight Engineer The university's annual Remembrance Week, which runs October 20-26, features a candlelight vigil . As the result of a 2008 pact between the Bush administration and the Libyan government of Moammar Gadhafi, Dav has received a payment of $3 million. 19 Jan, 2018, 11.19 PM IST. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Clipper 1736 Pan Am 1736 carries 378 passengers, 16 crew, and two Pan Am employees, who boarded in Tenerife and are sitting in the cockpit jumpseats. As the movie Neerja is releasing today, I thought it would be great to bring this story to all of you. The Pan Am 73 terrorist attack killed 20 passengers and crew and severely injured more than 100 of the 380 persons on board. Philadelphia, flight attendant. The Pakistani military boarded the plane and the ensuing shootout killed 22 people. She slid out the exit upside down. Asked about the role of Pakistani commandos in ending the hijack episode, he said grimly, None of the people saw any commandos., When the lights went out in the plane, he said, the terrorists killed indiscriminately, firing their machine guns from less than a yard away.. I told the terrorist I wanted some water. Otherwise wed have panicked. We just kept praying.. Nevertheless, Crowell & Mooring has insisted that the sharing provision applies. It remains the worlds deadliest air disaster. Read a copy of the handbook "Coping After Terrorism: Information for Victims and Survivors of Pan Am Flight #73 Hijacking May 12-13, 2004 - A sentencing proceeding was held before Judge Sullivan, attended by more than 50 victims and family members, many of whom provided powerful and emotional statements during the two-day proceeding. The motions hearing will go forward on May 5, 2003. Well, kind of, Video shows Memphis jailers beating Black inmate before his death, Skin lesion removed from President Bidens chest last month was cancerous, doctor says, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Latinx Files: In praise of Jenna Ortega, Aubrey Plaza and moody, deadpan Latinas. March 31, 2003 - Defense counsel filed reply briefs concerning motions filed on Feb 10, 2003. 25th 1977, two 747's crashed into each other in. Meherjee, the mechanic, told Safarini that the emergency power would last 15 minutes or so before the aircraft would be plunged into darkness. I was part of the Avishakar Academy Of Performing Arts. Murdaughs fall from grace ends in a life sentence for murder, CPAC shows the GOP has deep divisions that may prove impossible to repair, Abortion clinics crossing state borders not always welcome, Black Vietnam veteran finally awarded Medal of Honor, Toxic forever chemicals about to get their first U.S. limits, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Best coffee city in the world? The pact the Bush administration signed with the Libyan government, which dismissed all other existing lawsuits, applied only to the American passengers on Flight 73, who were in a distinct minority. September 9 - 10, 2003 - The Court postponed the hearing on legal motions that are not related to the death penalty until November 17, 2003, at 10:00 a.m., and scheduled a status conference for October 2, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. October 2, 2003 - A status conference was held before Judge Sullivan and another status conference was scheduled for October 21, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. October 21, 2003 - A status conference was held before Judge Sullivan and another status conference was scheduled for November 12, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. September 18, 2002 - Attorneys for defendant Safarini file a motion to bar the government from seeking the death penalty against the defendant, arguing that a death sentence in this case would violate the ex post facto clause of the Constitution. She informed the pilots about the hijack and thats how the pilots could escape. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. On Mar. THOMAS, Carol, New York, flight attendant. The terrorists began screaming in Arabic. The court set a briefing schedule regarding the government's motion to reconsider the death penalty ruling. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head. A total of 112 survivors of Flight 73 had arrived in the United States late Sunday, landing at New York's Kennedy International Airport, where they were met by relatives, friends, reporters and . Joe Biden's Sister Valerie Opens Up: 'We Bleed Like Every Family in America', Pregnant Woman, 25, and Man Who Recently Celebrated His 20th Wedding Anniversary Killed in Mo. When her dead body arrived in Mumbai, she looked fresh and beautiful because all her wounds were on her back.Had there been a VIP or a minister on our plane; all the lives would have been saved. The US was paid 1.5 billion dollars in compensation by Libya. . We stood still and numb, long after the end credits rolled. SARP, Aytel, Arlington. Nearly 30 years after the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi airport, six of the plane's crew have spoken to the media for the first time. Thats when the aggressive terrorist came up to us with his gun, warning us not to talk. This 747-121 was a big one, the kind with a second-floor lounge at the front of the plane where passengers could sit and have a drink. The other was identified by the State Department on Monday as Surendra Manubhal Patel, 50, of Fullerton, a computer programmer who was returning home from a vacation with his two daughters. PUBLISHED 12:35 PM ET Oct. 18, 2019. Meherjee Kharas, a 28-year-old Pan Am mechanic on board, was forced to make radio contact with negotiators outside. Dark Mode. The other 259 people aboard the aircraft died when the bomb blew apart the jetliner Dec. 21, 1988 or were killed by the 30,000-foot fall . I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. It was dark and I was very scared.. "Many have criticised the pilots for leaving the rest of the crew behind, but I was relieved when I saw the pilots were gone, as we were all safer on the ground than we would be in the air. The initial agreement between the passengers was "designed to avoid infighting," Newberger wrote. July 21, 2003 - The court began hearing arguments on the government's motion for the court to reconsider its ruling barring the death penalty in this case. The great eye opener though was the compassion shown by Pakistanis. We don't support landscape mode. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. The Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO), which they were members of, was opposed to US and Israeli policy in the Middle East. Documents on this page are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Gargi Dave was among the survivors of a shootout aboard a jetliners hijacked by Pakistani terrorists. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? Lynn Hartunian, 21, who was a student at SUNY Oswego, was one of the passengers killed on Pan Am Flight 103. Among them was Kankuben Gala, 67, of Tustin, who also was in a wheelchair. Tenerife killing approx. April 10, 2003 - The Court issued a legal opinion, ruling that the death penalty is not available in this case. Following is a list of passengers on the Pan American Boeing 747 airliner who were killed in the Canary Islands crash, as provided Monday to The Associated Press by Pan American officials: BRADLEY, Col. Clittro, San Juan Capisl, Calif. BRADLEY, Marlorie, San Juan Capist, Calif. BRANDCNBERG, Brita, Corona del Mar, Calif. CAZA, Elizabeth, Winosor, Oatario, Canada. The men entered the Boeing 747, firing shots into the air. After 33 years, the tragedy is still haunting. Pity that she was shot at. On September 5, 1986, Pan Am flight 73, a Boeing 747, departed Mumbai for New York with scheduled stops in Karchi and Frankfurt. Now, a tangle of lawsuits over $150 million in compensation from Libya is pitting them against one another. I realised I was completely drenched in my mothers blood. A total of 112 survivors of Flight 73 had arrived in the United States late Sunday, landing at New Yorks Kennedy International Airport, where they were met by relatives, friends, reporters and photographers. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Gargi Dave, at home in Sunnyvale, talks about her case on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. It was just before 06:00 and Pan Am Flight 73, on a stopover in Karachi from Mumbai, was scheduled to continue on to Frankfurt, en route to New York. My mother was trying to save me while Neerja saved other children.I wanted to use the loo. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. I wanted to save my family.. Sonam Kapoor's Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. The air conditioner stopped, the lights went off. This was given to the 40-odd American passengers of the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73, but not shared with the Indians, including the kin . Mike Thexton, a passenger on the plane, describes the act in his book What Happened to The Hippy Man? He held the gun in one hand and with the other he gave me water. 'Flight 73' is a Non-fiction, based on the true events that had happened on 6th September, 1986 while Pan-Am Clipper 73 was hijacked on the ground in Karachi, Pakistan. After the terrorists opened fire, I lay down flat fearing I could get killed any moment. Scott Herhold is a former San Jose metro columnist. We had no choice but to follow the terrorists instructions. Neerja had been shot in her hip and was bleeding heavily, but was conscious. On December 21, Pan Am 103 was beginning the second leg of its Frankfurt-London-New York-Detroit route. The Joint Prosecuting Agreement has language that may protect the law firm and cut against the Dav sisters. Neerja Bhanot (7 September 1963 - 5 September 1986) was an Indian purser who died while saving passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 which had been hijacked by terrorists from a terrorist organization during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986, just two days before her 23rd birthday.Posthumously, she became and remains the youngest recipient of India's highest peacetime gallantry . On the hand he was he giving me water and on the other he was still a threat to my life. (Karen T. Borchers/Mercury News). I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. Va., flight attendant, THOMAS, Carol, New York, flight attendant, TORRECH, Miguel, New York, flight attendant. More than three decades after a bomb pierced the evening sky over Lockerbie, Scotland, the Syracuse University community carries on a tradition to honor the 35 study-abroad students killed on Pan Am Flight 103. (From top left): Nupoor, Sunshine, Sherene, Dilip. I was drenched in her blood. I cant imagine what the babys mother must have gone through then.When people began escaping, the terrorists, who initially walked in wearing airport security uniforms, changed their clothes and tried to escape with the rest of us. The pilot picked up on her second attempt and she relayed the hijack code. Many went for it. These charges will serve as the basis for the upcoming criminal trial of defendant Safarini. . Melissa Missy Trahan was just 16 months old when she was rescued from the rubble of Pan Am Flight 759 in Kenner, Louisiana, on July 9, 1982. At the sentencing, the judge will consider victim impact evidence from those who survived Pan Am 73 as well as from family members or friends of those who were killed. It's been over 25 years since the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73, in Karachi, Pakistan, and a number of survivors are renewing their calls to Congress for compensation from the Foreign Claims . Lynne Carol Hartunian , 21, Schenectady, N.Y. (SUNY Oswego) Anthony Lacey Hawkins , 57 . We had a screening of Neerja for the survivors. September 28, 2001 - Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini, one of the men convicted in Pakistan for his role in the hijacking of Pan Am flight 73, is captured by the FBI shortly after he was released from jail by Pakistan. HIRANO, Sachiko, New York, fight attendant. The Pan Am captain's name was Victor Grubbs. And then another militant, his AK-47 and grenades in clear view, instructed Sunshine to take him to the captain. KERSHAW, Dorothea, Borrego Springs, Calif. TANEMURA, Roy, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. We were ready to take what was coming, because there was nothing else we could do. December 12, 2002 - The government files a notice of its intent to seek the death penalty against defendant Safarini, as well as a legal brief in response to defendant Safarini's motion seeking to bar the availability of the death penalty in this case. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. . At the conclusion of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan sentenced the defendant to three consecutive life terms plus 25 years, for a total of 160 years. The elderly woman, a resident of a village outside Bombay, had been on her way to Southern California with Kumar and Kumars aunt, Gangaben Patel. In 1986, Pakistani terrorists hijacked a US-bound plane in a drama that left 22 passengers dead. Had they not, the terrorists would have taken the flight somewhere and blown up the aircraft. This is where the fine print matters. 'Grey's Anatomy' Cast: Where Are They Now? Twenty people killed, more than 100 injured. "I didn't see medical facilities at the airport besides minor first aid The hospital was several kilometres away from the airport," says Dilip. Trahan, dubbed the "Miracle Baby of Pan Am Flight 759," was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining no serious injuries. May 30, 2003 - Defendant filed his response to the government's motion for the court to reconsider its ruling barring the death penalty in this case. Mrs. Georges husband was one of several survivors who were brought off a Pan American World Airways jetliner at Los Angeles International Airport in wheelchairs. She was hit with a bullet in her skull and had injuries on her chest and hands. Trahan, dubbed the Miracle Baby of Pan Am Flight 759, was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining no serious injuries. They were not aggressive as such but panic started after the power supply went off. This action was undertaken in coordination with a joint announcement with the U.S. Department of State that the Rewards for Justice Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the four individuals Wadoud Muhammad Hafiz al-Turki , Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, Muhammad Abdullah Khalil Hussain ar-Rahayyal, and Muhammad Ahmed al-Munawar all believed to have been members of the Abu Nidal terrorist organization. Crash, 41 Celebrities Who Have Shared Their Miscarriage Stories, in the Hopes of Helping Others, See PEOPLE's Incredible 20-Year Journey Documenting the Children Whose Dads Died on 9/11, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Eventful Decade: From Their Royal Exit to Baby No. Suresh GopalkrishnanProfession: Businessman, ChennaiAge: 55I was a carefree and free-spirited 23 year old boy, working with a German company, on my way to Paris. Maul, Hawaii. It was just before 06:00 and Pan Am Flight 73, on a stopover in Karachi from Mumbai, was scheduled to continue on to Frankfurt, en route to New York. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. The crew of Pan Am Flight 73 (three of whom are pictured here with their colleagues) were all in their early to mid 20s at the time of the hijack. 25-30 passengers were killed and a large number were injured. The law firms own 25 percent fees also figure in the debate. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. "Neerja's life may have been saved were conditions in the hospital better.". For her part, Gargi firmly rejects the notion that she is trying to put herself ahead of any other victim. The case is being investigated by the Bureaus Washington Field Office. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. Doctors did not think shed recover. T. M. George, 45, an auto parts store manager, was wounded in the back when he tried to shield his family from gunfire. He said she related, It was all confusion and panic. Contact Scott Herhold at sherhold@mercurynews.com or 408-275-0917. He told the four men that the airport authorities were looking for pilots to fly them where they needed to go. No one aboard the KLM aircraft survived, and only 71 people escaped from the Pan Am wreckage. On that night, Dec. 8, 1963, Flight 214, a Pan American Airways Boeing 707, was returning to the U.S. from from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Another person who was on the wings jumped down and broke his legs. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. June 19, 2000 - The federal court in the District of Columbia grants the government's request to unseal the indictment, thereby making public the pending criminal charges in the United States. Today, shes taken a leave from her San Diego-based firm to help with the Flight 73 litigation. They also shed light on the last few hours of Neerja Bhanot, their colleague who died in the attack and is the subject of the new film. Galas son, Bharat, 32, an Orange County motel owner, met her Monday and interpreted for her. They climbed back in through the door they had come through, and along with Sherene and another colleague, assisted and redirected passengers to the inflated slide. She had been shot in the lower left leg as she rushed to an emergency exit and her back and neck were injured when she jumped down to the tarmac. I t was September 5, 1986. Other terrified passengers had jumped down on top of her at Karachi, she explained. At least 29 other passengers, including 24 American citizens, were being treated at U.S. military hospitals in West Germany. Victim impact statements can be given in written or recorded form, and a limited number of victims will be permitted to give in-court testimony. "They had lost patience. He said of a family of four sitting across the aisle from him: Two of them were killed and the others were wounded.. Later, as Pakistani commandos prepared to raid, the gunmen opened fire inside the cabin. He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. Ill get to the details in a second. Her spirit lives inside of me, and so does my sisters, she said of her mom in an interview with local station WWLTV marking the 20th anniversary of the crash. My co-passenger, a German national, woke me up informing that our plane was hijacked. These sentences are later commuted to life sentences. We had to wait on the tarmac for 45 minutes for a transport vehicle to carry my mothers coffin. Profession: Chief Finance OfficerI was 23 then. I knew non-Americans could go to their own governments. Print. Three lives would be saved.". August 29, 1991 - A 126-count indictment is returned under seal (i.e., in secret) by a grand jury in the District of Columbia. We were informed that all those who hadnt made it to the tarmac had died inside the aircraft. They made 300 passengers move to the front of the economy cabin. We were told to raise our hands and sit. September 5, 1986 - Hijacking of Pan Am flight #73 in Karachi, Pakistan. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. They turned and ran back through the plane--and some gunfire--to the other wing, where they were able to slide to safety. 1988 - Five men are convicted in Pakistan for their roles in the hijacking. Pan Am flight 73 hijacking, takeover of a Pan American World Airways jet on September 5, 1986, by hijackers linked to the Ab Nil Organization. He had grenades on him. I experienced compassion from a stranger, that too a Pakistani. It departed from Los Angeles bound for the . See the press release concerning the guilty plea, See a copy of the signed plea agreement concerning the guilty plea, See a copy of the of the facts proffered by the government to which the defendant admitted guilt under oath, January 20, 2004 - Letters were mailed to victims whose addresses are known to the prosecution. Most . Pan Am Flight 816 was an international flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to San Francisco, California, via Tahiti, French Polynesia and Los Angeles.It was operated by a Pan Am Boeing 707-321B bearing the registration N417PA and named Clipper Winged Racer.On July 22, 1973, at 10:06 P.M. local time, the Boeing 707 took off from Faa'a International Airport in Papeete. I noticed that the evacuation hatch on the ceiling of the cockpit was open, but I pretended not to. If we run across information about someone else, said the spokeswoman, who did not want to be identified, were not averse to passing it on. How I connect my mother to Neerja is that they both died saving children and at the same time. I climbed back into the aircraft and then ran to the rear exit. Suffice it to say there are many shades of gray. August 28, 2002 - A 95-count superseding indictment is returned by a grand jury in the District of Columbia, charging defendant Safarini and four co-defendants. Neerja's colleagues say she was still alive when she arrived at Karachi's Jinnah Hospital. emailStay Connected There was a buzz that they had a time bomb on them, which could explode. "The pilots evacuating the airplane meant that we were not at the mercy of the terrorists, who could have instructed the plane to be flown into a building, or even blown up whilst in flight.". Janki Vyas VasantProfession: Founder of Samvedna, an NGOAge: 51At the tender age of 20, I saw death so closely, losing two of my close friend and a teacher. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the FBI or submit a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov. Become a Member. At the plea proceeding on December 16th, the terms of the plea agreement will be made public and the defendant is expected to admit his guilt. Sherene, and another colleague Ranee Vaswani, were the last two hostages to leave the plane. That plot was averted when the pilots climbed out of an emergency cockpit of the Boeing 747. Survivors of a 1986 terrorist attack on Pan Am 73 in Pakistan faced a nightmare together. It took a tremendous amount of courage, said her attorney, Boyd. Maybe, it was a sign from God to avoid flying but somehow we managed to take the flight. "The stories may differ but the spirit remains the same.". Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs. Neerja Bhanot was the only crew member to be awarded posthumous bravery awards by India and Pakistan, The Pakistani authorities released the leader of the hijackers, Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini, in September 2001, but he was quickly recaptured by the US, Safarini is 12 years into his 160-year sentence in a US prison.