The shooting began when the hijackers fired in panic as the lights went out in the Boeing 747 on a runway in Karachi, Pakistan, on Friday. Three of the hijackers were fleeing the airport when they were caught by airport security. PUBLISHED 12:35 PM ET Oct. 18, 2019. 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. "It was chaotic, like a war zone, in there. We were ready to take what was coming, because there was nothing else we could do. And then another militant, his AK-47 and grenades in clear view, instructed Sunshine to take him to the captain. 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 informed the pilots about the hijack and thats how the pilots could escape. 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. Were hoping that with the age-progression photos next to the original photos maybe that will jar some memories or maybe someone has seen these guys walking around.. He spoke to Witness about that terrible disaster. How much is naturally a matter of debate. As the shooting began to die down, said George, a flight attendant called out that an emergency exit was open. The attack, which occurred aboard Pan Am Flight 73 during an airport stopover in Karachi, resulted in the deaths of 20 passengers and crew. These were the 2 cockpit observers who may as well be considered passengers, 2 flight attendants, and 12 passengers. "They had lost patience. A form was provided for victims to let the prosecution team know if they are interested in attending and/or speaking at the sentencing proceeding. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. And Davs attorney, Lee Boyd, says the law firm erred by not expressly including the possibility of a treaty in its Joint Prosecuting Agreement. After a short break all the Flight 73 crew returned to Pan Am for at least a few years. Sign up for our newsletter and other special offers: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Turns 75! At the airport we identified them and they were captured by the security officials. Those hours were torturous. There was a buzz that they had a time bomb on them, which could explode. They have thrown every bit of their resources into trying to shut her up.. March 31, 2003 - Defense counsel filed reply briefs concerning motions filed on Feb 10, 2003. While they relayed the events to a private FBI meeting a week after the hijack, and to a parole hearing for the lead hijacker in 2005, this is the first time they have shared details with the media. 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. Defendant Safarini will be held in prison pending trial. He said he was looking for American fighter planes," says Sherene. The United States Attorney's Office In Your Neighborhood. Sunshine, Madhvi Bahuguna and another flight attendant began collecting passports, quietly avoiding collecting any that were American. 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. 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. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head. Galas son, Bharat, 32, an Orange County motel owner, met her Monday and interpreted for her. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, The problem with Pablo Escobars hippos. The Court finds that the ends of justice will be served by allowing the parties additional time to prepare for trial. The adrenaline was doing its work until I realised I had a major injury. On December 21, Pan Am 103 was beginning the second leg of its Frankfurt-London-New York-Detroit route. 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. "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. Neerja swayed the terrorists to allow us to use the washroom telling them that the passengers would cooperate better if they were allowed. We take you down the emotional journey "Neerja was standing right next to the exit. Then I was pushed gently from an exit and I landed on the tarmac. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. 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. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Gari Dave is now a Sunnyvale attorney and she is representing a group of other survivors who are fighting to keep millions in restitution paid to the survivors by the Libyan government, who admitted involvement in the hijacking. Some Southlanders will not be coming home. He also recommended that the Bureau of Prisons assign the defendant to the Administrative Maximum facility in Florence, Colorado, also referred to as "SuperMax. She informed the pilots about the hijack and thats how the pilots could escape. CORNELIUS, MRS. D., Woodland Hill, Calif. HALLDORSON, Raymond, Laguna Hills, Calif. JOHNSTON, Patricia, Newport Beach, Calif. McCULLOUGH, Gertrude, Santa Barbara, Calif. MITCHELL, Walter, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, MITCHELL, Evonne, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Dav sisters scampered over the top of the seats to find the emergency exit as the gunfire and grenades erupted. Her sister suffered severe damage to her feet when she leapt from the plane. KENNER, La. They let out a war cry," says Sunshine, "and began firing into the crowd. TANEMURA, Aya, Kelowna, Bristish Columbia, ?? I noticed that the evacuation hatch on the ceiling of the cockpit was open, but I pretended not to. THOMAS, Carol, New York, flight attendant. 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. Shahs family members, whom he had sent to Bombay to visit friends and relatives, were apparently uninjured. The gunmen positioned themselves on either side of the aisles. I will start with the flight a. January 2008 - Pakistan reportedly released from jail the remaining four hijackers who had been convicted in 1988. 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? 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 . I knew we couldnt jump down from the high wing. After escaping out an emergency window, Gargi and her sister, Giatri, were badly injured when they fell from wing to ground. The motions hearing will continue on Monday, June 16, 2003. But Pan-American Flight 759 crashed . Bloodstain is seen on one of the wings of the Pan Am jetliner on the Karachi Airport, Pakistan on 6 September 1986. There was complete chaos at the Sahar airport when we returned. I t was September 5, 1986. The university's annual Remembrance Week, which runs October 20-26, features a candlelight vigil . Members Only. When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. We were put up in a hotel. A former international cross-country skier who acted as a ski instructor to . 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. Later, as Pakistani commandos prepared to raid, the gunmen opened fire inside the cabin. 583 lives were lost when a KLM 747 collided with a Pan Am 747 at Tenerife's Los Rodeos Airport (TFN). The "Shatter Zone" Portion Of The Reconstructed Fuselage Of Pan Am Flight 103, Which Exploded Over Lockerbie In 1988 Is On Display January 31, 2001. It was a short jump to reach the wing of the plane. "Survivors [of such atrocities] are living each day with the memories," says Madhvi. A plea proceeding date was set for Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. and the status hearing previously scheduled for November 17, 2003, has been canceled. The great eye opener though was the compassion shown by Pakistanis. Then we were told to rest our heads on our hands and bend down. Mike was made to sit on the floor, and like the other passengers, keep his hands above his head. Sherene, and another colleague Ranee Vaswani, were the last two hostages to leave the plane. But I opted to carry a young lady, who was severely injured and sadly died in my arms. One was naturalized citizen Rajesh Kumar, 29, of Huntington Beach. Aside from one sharp kick, he says, he was not physically mistreated and eventually escaped with others in the later chaos. I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. 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. Chandigarh-born Bhanot was the senior flight purser on Pan Am Flight 73 hijacked in Karachi in 1986. . In 2010, the couple welcomed a daughter, Melanie naming their baby girl after Trahans late mother. The Georges two daughters, 8-year-old Priti, and 3-month-old Priya Joyce, apparently were unhurt, but the baby fell from her mothers arms as the family scrambled out on a wing to escape and the parents said they planned to have her examined by a physician here. The court rescheduled the hearing to continue on Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. August 13, 2003 - Legal arguments were held before Judge Sullivan, with the attorneys for the government and the defense arguing their positions on the government's motion for the court to reconsider its ruling barring the death penalty in this case. "Neerja was put into the ambulance without a stretcher.". 583 people. The survivors of the Pan Am 73 hijacked flight say that 'Neerja' unfairly depicts only one side of the story. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, A $150,000 executive protection dog? '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. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The Joint Prosecuting Agreement has language that may protect the law firm and cut against the Dav sisters. We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. She went to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. Read about our approach to external linking. The latter apparently was not hurt. 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.. 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. They turned and ran back through the plane--and some gunfire--to the other wing, where they were able to slide to safety. Age: 40Profession: ArtistI was 12 then and travelling with my mother Trupti Dalal. But a New York law firm is trying to wrest 90 percent of the settlement away from Dave and nine other survivors. We don't support landscape mode. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head.. 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. Passengerlist of the PamAm. But U.S. consulate officers go out to hospitals and airports to help U.S. citizens in distress. But, Pan Am Flight 214 . He held the gun in one hand and with the other he gave me water. Khanjan Dalal, who survived the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 in September 1986, has lauded Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja". No Thanks Please use portrait mode for best experience. 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. 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. 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. I knew if I didnt speak up for myself, this would haunt me for the rest of my life.. Sunshine called Dilip over to help, and the two carried Neerja to the emergency slide. Sonam Kapoor's Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. It was an American aircraft and Americans were their target. There were huge streaks of light breaking the darkness. Documents on this page are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. The Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO), which they were members of, was opposed to US and Israeli policy in the Middle East. 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. 19 Jan, 2018, 11.19 PM IST. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. PARKER, Isabella, Capistrano Bench, Calif. PENKSTAFF, Mrs. Charles San Diego, Calif. SEACRIST, Katherine, Lthaina. 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. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. April 11, 2003 - A status hearing was held before Judge Sullivan. "On occasion he would hold my hair, force my face to the window and ask what I could see on the tarmac. "I may be biased but I feel that day proved that the flight attendants on board were some of the best in the industry.". Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. I knew non-Americans could go to their own governments. Neerja was standing right next to the exit. I started running towards the terminus. Pan Am Flight 73 was a Pan American World Airways flight from Bombay, India, to New York, United States with scheduled stops in Karachi, Pakistan and Frankfurt, West Germany.. On September 5, 1986, the Boeing 747-121 serving the flight was hijacked while on the ground at Karachi by four armed Palestinian men of the Abu Nidal Organization.The aircraft, with 360 passengers on board, had just . 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. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when . Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Gargi Dave, at home in Sunnyvale, talks about her case on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. 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. It was dark and I was very scared.. The court date of November 17, 2003, which had previously been set as a date to hear arguments on legal motions not related to the death penalty, has been converted to a status conference. He said she related, It was all confusion and panic. Later, my friend and I had held another injured friend between our shoulders and escaped. When the day ended, almost everyone survived the hijack, thanks to Neerja's quick-thinking . 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. Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs. See Her Life in Photos, Mickey Guyton and Grant Savoy's Relationship Timeline, Girl, 11, Speaks Out After Dad's Bear Hug Saves Her Life in Airplane Crash, Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan's Relationship Timeline, The Cutest Longterm Celebrity Couple Throwback Photos, All of Princess Diana's PEOPLE Magazine Covers Through the Years, Shaquille O'Neal and Ex Shaunie's Relationship Timeline, On the 110th Anniversary of Titanic's Sinking, Revisit Chilling Tales of Life and Death from the PEOPLE Archives. Four terrorists took position in four corners of the cabin and started shooting and throwing grenades. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. Even after 30 years, he breaks down at the memory. 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. Her actions led to 359 of the 380 people on-board the plane managing to live through the ordeal. T. M. George, 45, an auto parts store manager, was wounded in the back when he tried to shield his family from gunfire. Safarini was still on board when Pakistan's security forces entered the plane. Dark Mode. In 1986, Pakistani terrorists hijacked a US-bound plane in a drama that left 22 passengers dead. 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 . December 30, 2002 - Attorneys for defendant Safarini file a reply brief in support of their motion seeking to bar the death penalty against the defendant. 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. 2 and Beyond, FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Shocking Death of Princess Diana, 25 Years Ago Today. Nevertheless, Crowell & Mooring has insisted that the sharing provision applies. 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. The passenger plane crashed in a residential area of Kenner soon after . Once they finally got to the hospital, the chaos continued, Sherene says. She could have easily escaped first but she chose to push everyone else out. Gargi woke up three days later. When the lights did go out, all the flight attendants and passengers were in the middle section of the cabin, several seated on the ground in the aisles and near the doors. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. 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. Survivors that later died. 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. 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. It showed they were ruthless killers," says Sunshine. Philadelphia, flight attendant, SARP, Aytel, Arlington. 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. An official website of the United States government. "The flight attendant smiled throughout the incident despite the fear surrounding her," Mitra said. Also known as Fatah-The Revolutionary Council, it is listed as a terrorist group by the United States, Israel and the European Union. The victims were recognized for their extraordinary bravery during the September 5, 1986 terrorist hijacking of Pan Am . My mother was trying to save me while Neerja saved other children.I wanted to use the loo. She fell on my shoulder, while I felt a hot ball of fire going up my feet. More information will be provided on submitting a victim impact statement at a later date. The air conditioner stopped, the lights went off. 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. On Mar. Each is sentenced to death. Another person who was on the wings jumped down and broke his legs. . There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 of whom were preparing for take-off. Philadelphia, flight attendant. We were informed that all those who hadnt made it to the tarmac had died inside the aircraft. Each of the men is on the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorists List. She was hit with a bullet in her skull and had injuries on her chest and hands. 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 . Similar findings are made by the Court on May 3, 2002, and again on November 1, 2002. They were not aggressive as such but panic started after the power supply went off.