A certain Mr. Mohammadbhai, a businessman from Karachi, known to a relative of Utpala came to us asking if he could help. Then, when all the passengers were off the wing, the crew did something remarkable. I lay down on my family, my small child and other baby . 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. Eventually the militants threatened that, as a pilot had not materialised, a passenger would be shot every 15 minutes. 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 . 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. About 7:00 pm on December 21, Pan Am flight 103, a Boeing 747 en route to New York City from . The motions hearing will continue on Monday, June 16, 2003. On Mar. She went back to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. What Colombia plans for their descendants, Messy storms roll eastward after slamming Texas, Louisiana, Ukrainians dig up more bodies from makeshift graves in once-occupied towns, New crew from U.S, Russia and UAE arrives at space station, Two Americans arrested on charges of selling tech to Russia. 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. Sonam Kapoors Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. Her sister suffered severe damage to her feet when she leapt from the plane. The other four defendants convicted in connection with the hijacking remain in jail in Pakistan. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. Thats when the aggressive terrorist came up to us with his gun, warning us not to talk. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Gargi Dave, at home in Sunnyvale, talks about her case on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. (From top left): Nupoor, Sunshine, Sherene, Dilip. Thirty-two years later, Trahan, now 33, is a wife and mother who has learned to cope with unbelievable loss. There was a buzz that they had a time bomb on them, which could explode. Bloodstain is seen on one of the wings of the Pan Am jetliner on the Karachi Airport, Pakistan on 6 September 1986. Three of the hijackers were fleeing the airport when they were caught by airport security. 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. Each of the men is on the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorists List. These charges will serve as the basis for the upcoming criminal trial of defendant Safarini. One was naturalized citizen Rajesh Kumar, 29, of Huntington Beach. We just started jumping. Tenn., flight attendant, JOHNSON, Caria, New York City, flight attendant, WARNS, Grores, Blairstown, N.J., flight engineer, See the article in its original context from. But if they accede to the demands of the law firm, Crowell & Moring, to share the money with the 137 non-Americans in the case, the Davs estimate they would lose 90 percent of the money negotiated for them. 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. 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. 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. 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. The motion will be argued on July 21, 2003. 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. Budget 2023. "I may be biased but I feel that day proved that the flight attendants on board were some of the best in the industry.". And Davs attorney, Lee Boyd, says the law firm erred by not expressly including the possibility of a treaty in its Joint Prosecuting Agreement. Gargi Dav argues that they could file in foreign courts. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The PanAm had also survivors, before the names of the survivors appears a * Content of the page: Crewlist of the PanAm. They occasionally worked the same flight and ran into each other at layovers. 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. 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. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. New Delhi, UPDATED: Sep 5, 2017 17:13 IST. 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. At the airport we identified them and they were captured by the security officials. Each is sentenced to death. February 10, 2003 - The attorneys for the defense and the government filed pretrial motions and notices. November 12, 2003 - A status conference was held before Judge Sullivan at which the parties announced that a plea agreement has been reached in the case. That fateful night our tickets were not confirmed. He was shot by the hijackers when, according to some other passengers, he objected to their rough treatment of a flight attendant. In 1986, Pakistani terrorists hijacked a US-bound plane in a drama that left 22 passengers dead. Mike Thexton, a passenger on the plane, describes the act in his book What Happened to The Hippy Man? I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. Then we were told to rest our heads on our hands and bend down. We were even scared to look at him.. LUKER, Marilyn. 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 . Neerja seemed like just any other airhostess until we reached Karachi and the terrorists took over. Forty minutes into the flight, the plane had reached the coast of Scotland. 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. The powerful emotions that stick in Gargi Dav's 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 . At least 29 other passengers, including 24 American citizens, were being treated at U.S. military hospitals in West Germany. 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. 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. No Thanks 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. A sentencing date is now set for May 12, 2004. Courageous crew members like Sunshine went back into the plane to look for survivors when the gunfire ceased and found . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? October 17, 1990. Ill get to the details in a second. They gave us strength. Sherene, and another colleague Ranee Vaswani, were the last two hostages to leave the plane. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. Their guns were on silent, so we didnt realise he was killed and thrown out. 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. Neerja may still be alive if she'd been cared for right away," says Sunshine. "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 died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. . 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. 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. The letters provided information about defendant Safarini's guilty plea and encouraged victims to attend the scheduled sentencing proceeding. One lady amongst us, Trupti, complained of a headache. I experienced compassion from a stranger, that too a Pakistani. Years later, the Libyan government admitted having planned the attack and agreed to US demands to pay compensation to the American citizens onboard. 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 . 2023 BBC. "Neerja was an excellent airhostess. January 2008 - Pakistan reportedly released from jail the remaining four hijackers who had been convicted in 1988. Gargi woke up three days later. 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. Today, shes taken a leave from her San Diego-based firm to help with the Flight 73 litigation. 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. 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. 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. At the center of that showdown is their 16-hour ordeal, during which the gunmen killed 20 passengers and wounded more than 100. I knew if I didnt speak up for myself, this would haunt me for the rest of my life.. We had no choice but to follow the terrorists instructions. 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. 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(In group shot - far left): Massey. Safarini, mid-joke, caught her and immediately pointed the gun at her head. Galas son, Bharat, 32, an Orange County motel owner, met her Monday and interpreted for her. Crowell & Moring LLP would like to recognize 13 of the firm's Pan Am Flight 73 victims of terrorism clients who were presented the Special Courage Award by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales during the National Crime Victims' Rights Week Awards Ceremony on April 21, 2006. Nobody knew what to do. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . "Neerja was put into the ambulance without a stretcher.". Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, A $150,000 executive protection dog? At Tenerife's Los Rodeos Airport, a KLM 747 initiated takeoff without air traffic control clearance and smashed into a Pan Am 747 waiting on the runway, resulting in 583 fatalities. They were at every exit trying to push us out of the aircraft. But for how long could one possibly bow down? Remembering Neerja Bhanot on hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. But Pan-American Flight 759 crashed . The defendant's response will be due on May 30, 2003, and the government's reply will be due on June 16, 2003. We stood still and numb, long after the end credits rolled. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head. "It was chaotic, like a war zone, in there. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 of whom were preparing for take-off. When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. Nupoor and Madhvi slipped off the edge of the wing, fracturing bones as they hit the tarmac around 20 feet (6 metres) below. Safarini was still on board when Pakistan's security forces entered the plane. I knew we couldnt jump down from the high wing. 25-30 passengers were killed and a large number were injured. After 33 years, the tragedy is still haunting. Pan Am Flight 759 went down shortly after takeoff in a Kenner neighborhood on July 9, 1982, killing all 145 on board. Print. When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. Those who knew and loved these people will never forget the moment they discovered the nearly unbearable truth. Members Only. My father, Kalpesh Dalal, was extremely disturbed. Documents on this page are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. I realised I had survived. The two girls narrowly escaped a deadly fusillade. We take you down the emotional journey "Neerja was standing right next to the exit. The terrorists began screaming in Arabic. KAREN ANDERSON (Pan Am Flight 1736 Passenger/Survivor): It was a survival mode that kicked in, and it was just, "get out of that airplane." KLAAS MEURS (KLM Flight 4805 Co-Pilot/From Flight Voice . Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. Khanjan Dalal, who survived the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 in September 1986, has lauded Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja" a biopic on Neerja Bhanot, the flight bursar who lost her life while saving others on the hijacked flight. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. For her part, Gargi firmly rejects the notion that she is trying to put herself ahead of any other victim. "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.". He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. The latter apparently was not hurt. On September 5, 1986, Thexton boarded Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi. He had been on a climbing expedition in northern Pakistan to say goodbye to his elder brother Pete, a doctor who had died during . 19 Jan, 2018, 11.19 PM IST. 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.. 583 people. Shahs family members, whom he had sent to Bombay to visit friends and relatives, were apparently uninjured. He caught me doing that and asked whether I was a journalist. Sunshine called Dilip over to help, and the two carried Neerja to the emergency slide. "It was 5th September 1986. I realised I was completely drenched in my mothers blood. On Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, India sees 'Neerja' again. By law, the government will have 30 days to decide whether to appeal this ruling. 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 . 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. There was one airhostess there helping people jump. Sign up for our newsletter and other special offers: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Turns 75! The Pan Am 73 terrorist attack killed 20 passengers and crew and severely injured more than 100 of the 380 persons on board. New Images Released in 1986 Hijacking Case. But I opted to carry a young lady, who was severely injured and sadly died in my arms.