During their interviews with the BBC, they stressed that there was no single hero that day, that crew members not interviewed played an equally important role, and that they want survivors of terror attacks like 9/11 and Paris to know that life goes on. Lynne Carol Hartunian , 21, Schenectady, N.Y. (SUNY Oswego) Anthony Lacey Hawkins , 57 . Crew list PanAm *Grubbs, Victor Captain *Bragg, Robert First Officer *Warns, George W. Flight Engineer Neerja Bhanot. 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. We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Nupoor and Madhvi slipped off the edge of the wing, fracturing bones as they hit the tarmac around 20 feet (6 metres) below. Four terrorists took position in four corners of the cabin and started shooting and throwing grenades. They made 300 passengers move to the front of the economy cabin. WILLIAMS, Norman; RO Palos Verdes, Calif. BRAGG, Robert, Howard Beach, N. Y., first officer, DONOVAN, Susanne, Harrisburg, Pa., flight attendant, GRUBBS, Victor, Centerport, L.I., captain, JACKSON, Joan, Nashville. He had been on a climbing expedition in northern Pakistan to say goodbye to his elder brother Pete, a doctor who had died during . September 12, 2002 - Defendant Safarini is arraigned on the superseding indictment and pleads not guilty to each of the counts. More information will be provided on submitting a victim impact statement at a later date. After complaints by families in the United States that they had been unable to get accurate information about their kin on the jetliner, a spokeswoman for a State Department task force said American consular officials were empowered only to deal with U.S. citizens. 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. (From top left): Nupoor, Sunshine, Sherene, Dilip. But Pan-American Flight 759 crashed . Today, shes taken a leave from her San Diego-based firm to help with the Flight 73 litigation. Defendant Safarini will be held in prison pending trial. Survivors that later died. I knew non-Americans could go to their own governments. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, A $150,000 executive protection dog? I was wondering if the Pan Am pilots are still living, or even the cabin crew. How I connect my mother to Neerja is that they both died saving children and at the same time. They threw the hand grenades too, one of which fell on my friend Rupal, sitting next to me. Pity that she was shot at. One lady amongst us, Trupti, complained of a headache. 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. "They had lost patience. 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. The following is a ast of known survivors of the Pan American Boeing 747 involved in the Canary Island crash as provided Monday to The Associated Press by Pan Am officials: CULBERTSON, Slcohen, Green Valley, Arizona. Students who switched tickets escaped the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. 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. The way I looked at life changed.I remember the terrorists dashing in from the front door near the pantry, holding Neerja at gun point. She went to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. Neerja had been shot in her hip and was bleeding heavily, but was conscious. "My mother died while shielding and protecting me. The FBI is hoping to generate new leads with the release of new age-progressed images of four alleged hijackers involved in a 1986 attack in Pakistan that killed two Americans. Years later, the Libyan government admitted having planned the attack and agreed to US demands to pay compensation to the American citizens onboard. Philadelphia, flight attendant. Philadelphia, flight attendant, SARP, Aytel, Arlington. 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. Contact the Webmaster to submit comments. PAN AM Flight 73 - Another Perspectiveby: Purnima Subhash Hardikar Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Gargi Dave, at home in Sunnyvale, talks about her case on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. PARKER, Isabella, Capistrano Bench, Calif. PENKSTAFF, Mrs. Charles San Diego, Calif. SEACRIST, Katherine, Lthaina. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. An airhostess, who felt unwell, too lay down next to Trupti. BY xms3200 - Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:04 am. "On occasion he would hold my hair, force my face to the window and ask what I could see on the tarmac. Had they not, the terrorists would have taken the flight somewhere and blown up the aircraft. The other hijackers were released from their Pakistani jail in 2008, against the wishes of India and the US. He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. 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. TORRECH . The defendant's response will be due on May 30, 2003, and the government's reply will be due on June 16, 2003. I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. I realised I couldnt stand. Like I say, there are many shades of gray here. 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. "I may be biased but I feel that day proved that the flight attendants on board were some of the best in the industry.". Sonam Kapoor's Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. Fellow attendant Sunshine Vesuwala saw one of the hijackers grab a colleague, Neerja Bhanot, and put a gun to her head. 583 people. The gunmen positioned themselves on either side of the aisles. All have coped in different ways. 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? Galas son, Bharat, 32, an Orange County motel owner, met her Monday and interpreted for her. Share it now! 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. ", 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. On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked on the ground at Karachi Airport in Pakistan by Palestinian terrorists led by the Abu Nidal Organization, a terrorist organization backed by . Two of the six remain in the industry. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. She slid out the exit upside down. The stench of her blood haunts me even today.". 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. Once they finally got to the hospital, the chaos continued, Sherene says. Bloodstain is seen on one of the wings of the Pan Am jetliner on the Karachi Airport, Pakistan on 6 September 1986. Neerja Bhanot. As evening set in, the on-board power supply started to dwindle, the lights got dimmer and the cool air stopped circulating. 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. After the terrorists opened fire, I lay down flat fearing I could get killed any moment. A sentencing date is now set for May 12, 2004. Meherjee, the mechanic, told Safarini that the emergency power would last 15 minutes or so before the aircraft would be plunged into darkness. We were travelling to the USA for a series of performances. They didn't discuss the hijack. The spokeswoman said anyone calling the State Department for information about a permanent resident would have been advised to call the embassy representing the passengers nationality. 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. 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. 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One hundred seventy-six passengers, estates, and family members who were victims of the September 5, 1986 terrorist hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan filed suit today against Libya and the individuals convicted of launching the attack. How much is naturally a matter of debate. 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. Jenny White's parents Bryan and Margaret were touring the United States, stopping off in New Orleans and preparing to fly to Las Vegas on July 9, 1982. 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. 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. We found a few people but not all. Many went for it. 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. Other terrified passengers had jumped down on top of her at Karachi, she explained. 25th 1977, two 747's crashed into each other in. It was dark and I was very scared.. 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. Contact Scott Herhold at sherhold@mercurynews.com or 408-275-0917. Gargi woke up three days later. 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. Joani and Jack sat in first . After the crash, Trahan and her father, who was working when the plane hit, moved away from Kenner to be closer to family. January 2008 - Pakistan reportedly released from jail the remaining four hijackers who had been convicted in 1988. He made me wear a burkha and we stepped out as the security wasnt allowing me to step out. Become a Member. 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 United States Attorney's Office In Your Neighborhood. Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. When the firing stopped, I ran to the front and someone pushed me out from the exit. 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 . Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head. The $5 million reward is offered through the State Departments Rewards for Justice Program. 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 hid below the seats so I was saved. She informed the pilots about the hijack and thats how the pilots could escape. Also known as Fatah-The Revolutionary Council, it is listed as a terrorist group by the United States, Israel and the European Union. See a Message on the 25th Anniversary of the Hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. We went back inside trying to exit from another door during which we lost each other. T. M. George, 45, an auto parts store manager, was wounded in the back when he tried to shield his family from gunfire. She was allowed to lie down. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. They were on Pan Am Flight 1736. Courageous crew members like Sunshine went back into the plane to look for survivors when the gunfire ceased and found . The adrenaline was doing its work until I realised I had a major injury. Sunshine called Dilip over to help, and the two carried Neerja to the emergency slide. Just 61 people survived, all from the Pan Am jumbo jet. That didnt make sense to Gargi Dav, who read the law firms demands with a trained lawyers eye. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. 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. They threw the hand grenades too, one of which fell on my friend Rupal (18), sitting next to me. 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. The letters provided information about defendant Safarini's guilty plea and encouraged victims to attend the scheduled sentencing proceeding. The hearing on motions not related to the death penalty will continue on September 10, 2003, not on June 16, 2003, as previously scheduled. Khanjan Dalal, who survived the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 in September 1986, has lauded Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja". Sixteen-month-old Melissa Trahan, on stretcher, is rushed from the scene of the crash of Pan Am Flight 759 in Kenner, La. "Neerja was an excellent airhostess. Three lives would be saved.". The door nearest the wing had been opened in manual, which meant that the emergency slide did not deploy. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when . 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. Calling the fight sad and disheartening, Newberger said the sharing clause was originally put in the agreement to stop infighting among the 178 plaintiffs. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. 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 . At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. as "extremely brave, selfless and clever". He was not related to Kuverben Patel, 80, Kumars grandmother, who was also among the passengers killed. Over the next few hours on the upper deck, Safarini let his guard down several times, Sunshine says. April 10, 2003 - The Court issued a legal opinion, ruling that the death penalty is not available in this case. 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. [17], One of the four, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, was allegedly killed in a dr 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. 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. New Images Released in 1986 Hijacking Case. 1988 - Five men are convicted in Pakistan for their roles in the hijacking. Suffice it to say there are many shades of gray. 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. Get FBI email alerts Neerja seemed like just any other airhostess until we reached Karachi and the terrorists took over. The firm's court filings estimate that $330 million is owed to Pan Am 73 survivors. Then I was pushed gently from an exit and I landed on the tarmac. She fell on my shoulder, while I felt a hot ball of fire going up my feet. 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. Please use portrait mode for best experience. View a copy of the Court's legal opinion on the availability of the death penalty in this case. 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. I turned more patriotic, pious and mind you not religious rather spiritual after this incident. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 of whom were preparing for take-off. The pilot picked up on her second attempt and she relayed the hijack code. 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. We were told to raise our hands and sit. Now, a tangle of lawsuits over $150 million in compensation from Libya is pitting them against one another. Documents on this page are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. A family from Karachi later got me clothes and shoes. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. Safarini, mid-joke, caught her and immediately pointed the gun at her head. No Thanks Our responsibility is to assist U.S. citizens.. 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. Each is sentenced to death. The survivors of the Pan Am 73 hijacked flight say that 'Neerja' unfairly depicts only one side of the story. We just kept praying.. Sunshine and Dilip were also on the wing, but in the darkness couldn't gauge the distance of the drop. 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. We were helpless, said Mary George, 37, of Norwalk. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. I was from a business family, married into another business family but I chose to start an NGO, providing education for the underprivileged after going through this tragedy. I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. The other four defendants convicted in connection with the hijacking remain in jail in Pakistan. Become a Member. The air conditioner stopped, the lights went off. She was killed while helping passengers to escape through emergency exits when hijackers opened fire and set off explosives during the 16-hour ordeal. These sentences are later commuted to life sentences.