At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. Unable to fly the plane, the terrorists started by executing an American and dumping his body out the door of the plane. At least 29 other passengers, including 24 American citizens, were being treated at U.S. military hospitals in West Germany. We landed on the wing. Her actions led to 359 of the 380 people on-board the plane managing to live through the ordeal. They made 300 passengers move to the front of the economy cabin. Having failed to find an American, the militants settled for someone British. See a Message on the 25th Anniversary of the Hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Another person who was on the wings jumped down and broke his legs. We just kept praying.. New Images Released in 1986 Hijacking Case. The gunmen's plan was to force the pilots to fly them to Cyprus and Israel, where other members of their militant group were incarcerated on terror charges. When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. In 2010, the couple welcomed a daughter, Melanie naming their baby girl after Trahans late mother. We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. Today, the California sisters, along with several other passengers from Flight 73, are locked in a legal struggle with the law firm that represented them in the battle to win damages from the government of Libya, which funded the hijackers. Its harder to argue that the international clients the bulk of the Crowell & Moring clients should benefit from a treaty designed to benefit only American victims. Even after 30 years, he breaks down at the memory. How much is naturally a matter of debate. Contact the Webmaster to submit comments. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. Towards the end, they were frustrated because they were looking for pilots and there were none.After a point when it was dark, this leader, I remember him being addressed as Mustafa, said his prayers in a high pitch. Otherwise wed have panicked. That incident changed my outlook towards life. They saw another door had been deployed in automatic, which meant that the emergency slide was inflated. 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. On December 21 Pan Am Flight 103 crashed on Lockerbie after the bombing of a Boeing 747-121. 19 Jan, 2018, 11.19 PM IST. 583 lives were lost when a KLM 747 collided with a Pan Am 747 at Tenerife's Los Rodeos Airport (TFN). A 16-hour standoff at Jinnah International Airport in Karchi ended with 22 hostages dead and some 150 injured. Nupoor saw them shoot near the feet of a colleague, shouting at her to lock the door. Four terrorists took position in four corners of the cabin and started shooting and throwing grenades. He said he was looking for American fighter planes," says Sherene. Suffice it to say there are many shades of gray. 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 . The Joint Prosecuting Agreement has language that may protect the law firm and cut against the Dav sisters. I hid below the seats so I was saved. 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. Many went for it. I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. They gave us strength. "My mother died while shielding and protecting me. The government argues that the death penalty is available for defendant Safarini's violation of the air piracy statute. Survivors of a 1986 terrorist attack on Pan Am 73 in Pakistan faced a nightmare together. And in any case, at least the three pilots were safe. Other terrified passengers had jumped down on top of her at Karachi, she explained. 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. We found a few people but not all. 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. Pan Am Flight 73 had just touched down in Karachi after departing from Mumbai, India, and was en route to Germany and then New York when the Palestinian gunmen commandeered it around 6:00 a.m. that fateful September day. ", See a copy of the Sentencing Response Form, See a copy of the Victim Impact Statement Form, 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. I told the terrorist I wanted some water. Most . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We went to all the hospitals looking for our people. Defendant Safarini will be held in prison pending trial. Meanwhile, inside the plane, 29-year-old American passenger Rajesh Kumar was pulled out of his seat and made to kneel in front of one of the open doors, with a gun to his head. 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. Amid sobs and applause from victims and relatives of those killed in the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan, Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini -- leader of an Abu Nidal terrorist . He said of a family of four sitting across the aisle from him: Two of them were killed and the others were wounded.. She was hit with a bullet in her skull and had injuries on her chest and hands. Making sure that victims of crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. The powerful emotions that stick in Gargi Davs heart and mind from the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 nearly a quarter-century ago mix the horrific with the unexpectedly kind, the blessing of survival with the resolve not to be victimized again. Musician Nayan Pancholi recounts how he lost his eye but survived the Pan Am flight hijack in 1986. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. Sherene, and another colleague Ranee Vaswani, were the last two hostages to leave the plane. Interim status hearing dates were set for February 18, 2004, and April 14, 2004. We had a screening of Neerja for the survivors. I noticed that the evacuation hatch on the ceiling of the cockpit was open, but I pretended not to. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. Students who switched tickets escaped the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. At the sentencing in the spring of 2004, 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. I could have run to the terminus. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. He had been on a climbing expedition in northern Pakistan to say goodbye to his elder brother Pete, a doctor who had died during . Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. 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. Sunshine remained alert. Age: 50Profession: BusinessmanI was 21 then. The survivors of the Pan Am 73 hijacked flight say that 'Neerja' unfairly depicts only one side of the story. One of the survivors and also eyewitness of hijacked Pan-Am flight in the year 1986. We take you down the emotional journey "Neerja was standing right next to the exit. After the crash, Trahan and her father, who was working when the plane hit, moved away from Kenner to be closer to family. 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. New Delhi, UPDATED: Sep 5, 2017 17:13 IST. Get FBI email alerts The Pan Am Flight 73 on its way from Mumbai to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt was . An airhostess, who felt unwell, too lay down next to Trupti. Then I was pushed gently from an exit and I landed on the tarmac. November 7, 2001 - The Court finds that, due to the complexity of the case, it would be unreasonable to expect the parties to prepare for trial within the time limits established by the Speedy Trial Act (usually 70 days). A family from Karachi later got me clothes and shoes. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. The hearing on motions not related to the death penalty will continue on September 10, 2003, not on June 16, 2003, as previously scheduled. Eventually, she moved back to New Orleans and married Joe Ferrara, whom she called the boy next door in the Times-Picayune story. Twenty people killed, more than 100 injured. 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. I lay down on my family, my small child and other baby . She could have easily been the first one to escape but she chose to push everyone else out. Later, my friend and I had held another injured friend between our shoulders and escaped. Witness is a programme of the . "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. She persuaded them to let the children drink water too. 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. Although the hijackers had closed the doors and lowered the shutters earlier, the air conditioning and lights had been on. But, Pan Am Flight 214 . I wanted to give the pilots time to escape in case they were still in the process of climbing down the ropes outside the plane. For her part, Gargi firmly rejects the notion that she is trying to put herself ahead of any other victim. On Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, India sees 'Neerja' again. Judge Sullivan also recommended that the defendant never receive parole. It departed from Los Angeles bound for the . Still wearing the looks of terror, and in some cases their bloodied clothes and bandages, Southern California survivors of the hijacking of Pan American Flight 73 began coming home Monday. Nupoor and Madhvi slipped off the edge of the wing, fracturing bones as they hit the tarmac around 20 feet (6 metres) below. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when . Tenerife killing approx. Each is sentenced to death. On September 5, 1986, Pan Am flight 73, a Boeing 747, departed Mumbai for New York with scheduled stops in Karchi and Frankfurt. One of the hijackers removed a blanket and covered her with it because she was wearing a short skirt. We were aware they took hold of Rajesh, a US national. Around four hours into the siege, the hijackers began trying to identify the Americans on board. December 16, 2003 - Defendant Safarini pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to all 95 counts of the superseding indictment against him in connection with the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. These sentences are later commuted to life sentences. 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. Under the U.S. federal claims settlement rules, lawyers are only able to retain 10 percent of any settlements. Mike was made to sit on the floor, and like the other passengers, keep his hands above his head. 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. My friend was drenched in blood. It was a strange feeling. When the doors were thrown open, I realised I had jumped onto the wing. 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. LUKER, Marilyn. "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. She was allowed to lie down. I t was September 5, 1986. Saturday marked 40 years since Pan Am 759 crashed into a Kenner neighborhood, killing all 146 people on board and eight people on the ground.The only survivor on the ground was 16 . 270 people were killed, including 11 people in the town. 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. It showed they were ruthless killers," says Sunshine. That didnt make sense to Gargi Dav, who read the law firms demands with a trained lawyers eye. Please use portrait mode for best experience. The FAI report concluded that Pan Am 103's 16 crew and 243 named passengers, including Bernt Wilmar Carlsson (born on 21 November 1938 and residing at Apartment 30, 207 West 106th Street, New York, New York 10025 . The next status hearing in the case is now scheduled for Monday May 19, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. Gargi woke up three days later. 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. The pilot picked up on her second attempt and she relayed the hijack code. A certain Mr. Mohammadbhai, a businessman from Karachi, known to a relative of Utpala came to us asking if he could help. By India Today Web Desk: On this day, exactly 31 years ago, a young flight attendant named Neerja Bhanot boarded Pan Am Flight 73 that would be hijacked on its way to the United States of America. He told the four men that the airport authorities were looking for pilots to fly them where they needed to go. Those who knew and loved these people will never forget the moment they discovered the nearly unbearable truth. Survivors that later died. Over the next few hours on the upper deck, Safarini let his guard down several times, Sunshine says. October 17, 1990. The report of the Lockerbie Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI), which was held at Dumfries in Scotland from October 1990 to February 1991, explained how Pan Am Flight 103 was sabotaged. The stench of her blood haunts me even today.". Nupoor tried to comfort the passengers around her while her colleague Dilip Bidichandani took round sandwiches and Neerja distributed water. Outside, four gunmen had sped on to the tarmac in a van disguised as airport security. More information will be provided to victims concerning submitting a victim impact. BKELUND, Christine, New York, flight attendant, HIRANO, Sachiko, New York, fight attendant, LUKER, Marilyn. The FBIs Hazardous Devices School at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama is the only facility in the country that trains and certifies the nations public safety bomb technicians. Sign up for our newsletter and other special offers: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Turns 75! On Pan Am 1736, seven of the 16-member flight crew, along with two company employees and 61 passengers, survived, although nine later died of their injuries. . 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. Bloodstain is seen on one of the wings of the Pan Am jetliner on the Karachi Airport, Pakistan on 6 September 1986. Some Southlanders will not be coming home. Then we were told to rest our heads on our hands and bend down. Khanjan Dalal, who survived the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 in September 1986, has lauded Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja". 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. In the chaos and darkness, at least three doors had been opened, though it is not clear by whom. PUBLISHED 12:35 PM ET Oct. 18, 2019. Our responsibility is to assist U.S. citizens.. He showed so much grace in trouble, barring borders and perceptions. May 19, 2003 - A status hearing was held during which the Court decided to vacate (cancel) the September 8th trial date, pending the resolution of the government's motion for the court to reconsider its ruling barring the death penalty in this case. 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 the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. It took a tremendous amount of courage, said her attorney, Boyd. She slid out upside down.". June 16, 2003 - The government filed its reply brief in support of its motion for the court to reconsider its ruling barring the death penalty in this case. Neerja Bhanot was working as a senior flight attendant for Pan American World Airways when tragedy struck on the morning of Sept. 5, 1986. 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. "That day, knowingly or unknowingly, we came together as a team and played our parts to the best of our ability," says Massey Casper, another steward. The door nearest the wing had been opened in manual, which meant that the emergency slide did not deploy. Read about our approach to external linking. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . Pan Am flight 103, also called Lockerbie bombing, flight of a passenger airliner operated by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, after a bomb was detonated. The hijacking of Flight 73 was a botched precursor to 9/11. It was dark and I was very scared.. Like I say, there are many shades of gray here. At the . While on a routine stopover in Pakistan, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four armed Palestinian terrorists. The PanAm had also survivors, before the names of the survivors appears a * Content of the page: Crewlist of the PanAm. Working hard and making money was on my mind until I went through this incident. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? The university's annual Remembrance Week, which runs October 20-26, features a candlelight vigil . 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.. Our tickets got confirmed at the last moment on Pan-Am Flight-73, which was headed from Mumbai to New York, via Karachi and Frankfurt. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. He made me wear a burkha and we stepped out as the security wasnt allowing me to step out. The Court finds that the ends of justice will be served by allowing the parties additional time to prepare for trial.