The terrorists began screaming in Arabic. On December 21, 1988, their 20-year-old daughter, Theodora, was one of 270 people killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. I had a bullet injury on the right leg and the whole of the left leg up to my thigh was burnt with the grenade. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 . 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. We went back inside trying to exit from another door during which we lost each other. The initial agreement between the passengers was "designed to avoid infighting," Newberger wrote. A certain Mr. Mohammadbhai, a businessman from Karachi, known to a relative of Utpala came to us asking if he could help. (Karen T. Borchers/Mercury News). . 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 . Joani and Jack sat in first . When the firing stopped, I ran to the front and someone pushed me out from the exit. The next status hearing in the case is now scheduled for Monday May 19, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. They were on Pan Am Flight 1736. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the FBI or submit a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov. As the shooting began to die down, said George, a flight attendant called out that an emergency exit was open. We landed on the wing. MUMBAI-Neerja Bhanot died on the night of Sept. 5, 1986, after terrorists killed her for helping passengers escape Pan Am Flight 73 hijacked at Karachi airport, Pakistan. He was shot by the hijackers when, according to some other passengers, he objected to their rough treatment of a flight attendant. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. By law, the government will have 30 days to decide whether to appeal this ruling. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? She could have easily escaped first but she chose to push everyone else out. The plane, a Boeing 707, returning from San Juan, Puerto Rico, made a stop in Baltimore to refuel before continuing to Philadelphia to drop off the last of its passengers. Somehow I managed to escape from the aircraft. Security forces laid siege to the New York-bound plane for 16 hours at Karachi airport after the jet was taken over by Palestinian militants on 5 September 1986. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. They shot a certain US citizen by the name of Rajesh.I remember seeing Neerja each time the terrorists asked her to give us instructions. Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs. Lynne Carol Hartunian , 21, Schenectady, N.Y. (SUNY Oswego) Anthony Lacey Hawkins , 57 . Gargi Dave was among the survivors of a shootout aboard a jetliners hijacked by Pakistani terrorists. 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. There was one airhostess there helping people jump. I wanted to save my family.. The fundamental issue is whether the sisters are showing great courage in standing up to a big law firm for what should be theirs or whether they are, in essence, greedy. The Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO), which they were members of, was opposed to US and Israeli policy in the Middle East. One person opened the door that led to the wing of the plane. 2 and Beyond, FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Shocking Death of Princess Diana, 25 Years Ago Today. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. January 2008 - Pakistan reportedly released from jail the remaining four hijackers who had been convicted in 1988. Eventually the militants threatened that, as a pilot had not materialised, a passenger would be shot every 15 minutes. 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 . When Gala was wheeled off the plane in Los Angeles, clutching her X-rays, her blue polyester slacks and a purple sweater showed the dirt and oil marks of her leap. T. M. George, 45, an auto parts store manager, was wounded in the back when he tried to shield his family from gunfire. May 5, 2003 - The court heard testimony from two FBI agents in connection with the defendant's motion to suppress statements and the defendant's speedy trial motion. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. In 1986, Pakistani terrorists hijacked a US-bound plane in a drama that left 22 passengers dead. Read about our approach to external linking. She slid out the exit upside down. We had no choice but to follow the terrorists instructions. On September 5, 1986, Pan Am flight 73, a Boeing 747, departed Mumbai for New York with scheduled stops in Karchi and Frankfurt. In the chaos and darkness, at least three doors had been opened, though it is not clear by whom. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Unable to fly the plane, the terrorists started by executing an American and dumping his body out the door of the plane. He spoke to Witness about that terrible disaster. How much is naturally a matter of debate. Bloodstain is seen on one of the wings of the Pan Am jetliner on the Karachi Airport, Pakistan on 6 September 1986. The letter also contained a handbook entitled "Coping After Terrorism: Information for Victims and Survivors of the Pan Am Flight #73 Hijacking. One of the hijackers removed a blanket and covered her with it because she was wearing a short skirt. About 7:00 pm on December 21, Pan Am flight 103, a Boeing 747 en route to New York City from . Earlier Monday, Arun Athavale of Mission Viejo, a computer engineer, arrived here on an American Airlines plane and was met by his wife, Prati, and son, Agay, 4. Pity that she was shot at. December 3, 2009 - The FBI announced that it has added the four fugitive hijackers to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list. Ill get to the details in a second. 25-30 passengers were killed and a large number were injured. Also, a sentencing date will be scheduled (probably for some time in the spring of 2004). Though nearly everyone was paralyzed with fear, Neerja Bhanot wasted no time in trying to diffuse the situation. Suffice it to say there are many shades of gray. Herhold: The heritage of a 24-year-old hijacking, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early. Following is a partial list of the casualties on Pan Am Flight 73, which was hijacked Friday in Karachi, Pakistan, as made public yesterday by Pan American World Airways. 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.. 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. I could have run to the terminus. We were travelling to the USA for a series of performances. They were not aggressive as such but panic started after the power supply went off. Victim impact statements should be submitted to the prosecution team by March 1, 2004. The Pan Am Flight 73 on its way from Mumbai to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt was . But win or lose, what strikes me is how a 10-year-old victim has grown up to be an intelligent and passionate young lawyer willing to take on a big international law firm that has threatened her with legal reprisals. Maybe, it was a sign from God to avoid flying but somehow we managed to take the flight. 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. Making sure that victims of crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. "Survivors [of such atrocities] are living each day with the memories," says Madhvi. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. SARP, Aytel, Arlington. Around four hours into the siege, the hijackers began trying to identify the Americans on board. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. In 2005, at the urging of other Flight 73 survivors, she and her sister joined a group that hired the Washington, D.C. law firm of Crowell & Moring to pursue claims against the Libyan government, which had backed several international terrorist exploits, including the 1988 Pan Am explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland. I knew non-Americans could go to their own governments. We were pushed to another compartment of the aircraft. Around 4 pm, we were served some cold drinks and snacks.The most incredible memory is that of Neerja gesturing the passengers to hide their American passports. Nearly 361 passengers, ground crew and 13 flight attendants spent 16 . Victims were also encouraged to submit a victim impact statement and a form was provided to serve as a guide in composing a victim impact statement. If you wish to contact the FBI case agent assigned to this matter, Special Agent Michael OCallaghan, any of the prosecutors handling this matter, Jennifer Levy, Gregg Maisel or Robert Bowman, or victim-witness advocate Yvonne Bryant you may do so at USADC.PanAm73@usdoj.gov. 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. They turned and ran back through the plane--and some gunfire--to the other wing, where they were able to slide to safety. Maul, Hawaii. 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. As the movie Neerja is releasing today, I thought it would be great to bring this story to all of you. Gargi woke up three days later. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. He was not related to Kuverben Patel, 80, Kumars grandmother, who was also among the passengers killed. Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. "The stories may differ but the spirit remains the same.". 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. They were at every exit trying to push us out of the aircraft. Other terrified passengers had jumped down on top of her at Karachi, she explained. Thats when the aggressive terrorist came up to us with his gun, warning us not to talk. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . Courtesy Gargi Dave -- A ten-year-old Gargi Dave, left, is kissed and comforted by her mother, Niru in the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. No matter how much time has passed or the obstacles we encounter,the case agent said, we owe it to the victims and their families to never give up on them.. An airhostess, who felt unwell, too lay down next to Trupti. Nevertheless, Crowell & Mooring has insisted that the sharing provision applies. We take you down the emotional journey "Neerja was standing right next to the exit. 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. He caught me doing that and asked whether I was a journalist. I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. But U.S. consulate officers go out to hospitals and airports to help U.S. citizens in distress. The motions hearing will continue on Monday, June 16, 2003. "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. 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. No Thanks The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Fellow attendant Sunshine Vesuwala saw one of the hijackers grab a colleague, Neerja Bhanot, and put a gun to her head. The attack, which occurred aboard Pan Am Flight 73 during an airport stopover in Karachi, resulted in the deaths of 20 passengers and crew. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. He said images of the suspects obtained by the FBI in the year 2000 were age-progressed by the FBI Laboratory. Trahan, dubbed the Miracle Baby of Pan Am Flight 759, was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining no serious injuries. Students who switched tickets escaped the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. Most . "My first instinct was to open the wing exit and slip out with as many passengers as I could, but I realised that this would leave the rest of the passengers vulnerable," then flight attendant Nupoor Abrol told BBC News. Outside, four gunmen had sped on to the tarmac in a van disguised as airport security. And then another militant, his AK-47 and grenades in clear view, instructed Sunshine to take him to the captain. Subscribe DUMFRIES, Scotland (AP) _ Two passengers might have survived the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 had they received the best medical care immediately, a Scottish pathologist testified Wednesday. In a sense, hers is an utterly American stance. She was allowed to lie down. After 33 years, the tragedy is still haunting. We were aware they took hold of Rajesh, a US national. "This changed everything. 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. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. . '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. The answer: "We are Pan Am Flight 914 en route from New York to Miami, Florida, with a crew of 4 and 57 passengers on board." At this point, the control tower personnel were stunned in silence. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Like I say, there are many shades of gray here. I was told to go alone and on my way back, I came across a water dispenser. Otherwise wed have panicked. Mike Thexton, a passenger on the plane, describes the act in his book What Happened to The Hippy Man? Also meeting the plane was Harshad Shah, 40, a Los Angeles bank employee, who had waited through the days of fear and uncertainty to learn what had happened to his wife, Raksha; his 65-year-old mother, Jasumati; his son, Pratik, 3, and his daughter, Jignisha, 13. On December 21 Pan Am Flight 103 crashed on Lockerbie after the bombing of a Boeing 747-121. In the past several weeks, the Indian and Indian-American victims of the Pan Am 73 flight have renewed their efforts in both Washington and New Delhi, pushing the two governments to get them the . Anyone can read what you share. "On occasion he would hold my hair, force my face to the window and ask what I could see on the tarmac. BY xms3200 - Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:04 am. Sixteen-month-old Melissa Trahan, on stretcher, is rushed from the scene of the crash of Pan Am Flight 759 in Kenner, La. Four terrorists took position in four corners of the cabin and started shooting and throwing grenades. At the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, FBI Director Christopher Wray discussed how the FBI is evolving to stay ahead of threats in the digital age. For her part, Gargi firmly rejects the notion that she is trying to put herself ahead of any other victim. One lady amongst us, Trupti, complained of a headache. Captain Robert Bragg was the co-pilot aboard the Pan Am plane, and was one of the few who survived the collision. "They had lost patience. Similar findings are made by the Court on May 3, 2002, and again on November 1, 2002. A survivor of 1986 Pan Am hijack, Murthy shuddered as the dreadful moment flashed before his eyes. 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One of the terrorists picked up the baby and started strutting up and down with a machine gun in his hand and a rifle hanging from his shoulder. Some Southlanders will not be coming home. FBI Releases Age-Progressed Photos of Four Most Wanted Terrorists from Pan Am Flight 73 Hijacking, MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH KHALIL HUSSAIN AR-RAHAYYAL, FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. More information will be provided to victims concerning submitting a victim impact. Basically, they would be taking away 90 percent of the money, she said. The Pan Am captain's name was Victor Grubbs. We found a few people but not all. Today, shes taken a leave from her San Diego-based firm to help with the Flight 73 litigation. They didn't discuss the hijack. October 2, 2001 - Defendant Safarini is arraigned before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in the District of Columbia and pleads not guilty to each of the counts in the indictment. 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. '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. I thought we were going to die, George said. Answer (1 of 6): Of all of the 61 survivors of Pan Am Flight 1736 (the flight that had survivors come out), only 16 people came out without injuries. Not hearing any more gunfire, but not knowing where the gunmen were, they went back into the dark plane to look for survivors. We just kept praying.. You can argue that setting aside the lawsuit brought by Crowell & Moring was one of the benefits to Libya in signing a pact and therefore that the lawyers deserve some payment for their work. The couple grabbed their daughters and ran to the exit, only to find themselves on a wing, 18 feet above the ground, without an escape chute. "Neerja's life may have been saved were conditions in the hospital better.".
pan am flight 73 child survivors