n the afternoon of Dec. 21, 1988, Syracuse University student Matthew Trento walked into New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, ready to make what he thought would be a routine connection between a Pan Am flight and a Piedmont plane bound for Syracuse. But, Pan Am Flight 214 . I experienced compassion from a stranger, that too a Pakistani. Some Southlanders will not be coming home. One person opened the door that led to the wing of the plane. 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. I was wondering if the Pan Am pilots are still living, or even the cabin crew. And then another militant, his AK-47 and grenades in clear view, instructed Sunshine to take him to the captain. Interim status hearing dates were set for February 18, 2004, and April 14, 2004. At the . We had no choice but to follow the terrorists instructions. 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. 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. After the crash, Trahan and her father, who was working when the plane hit, moved away from Kenner to be closer to family. 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. (Photo: AP) In 2003, Zayd Safrini pleaded guilty to 95 charges which included . He caught me doing that and asked whether I was a journalist. An official website of the United States government. As evening set in, the on-board power supply started to dwindle, the lights got dimmer and the cool air stopped circulating. Neerja Bhanot (7 September 1963 - 5 September 1986) was an Indian purser who died while saving passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 which had been hijacked by terrorists from a terrorist organization during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986, just two days before her 23rd birthday.Posthumously, she became and remains the youngest recipient of India's highest peacetime gallantry . That incident changed my outlook towards life. The US was paid 1.5 billion dollars in compensation by Libya. 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. Some of us, passengers and crew alike, are still struggling with the skeletons of the past, trying to fix the puzzle of incidents, sequences, people who were involved in the chains of events," says Nupoor. He showed so much grace in trouble, barring borders and perceptions. 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. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . September 5, 1986 - Hijacking of Pan Am flight #73 in Karachi, Pakistan. LUKER, Marilyn. All have coped in different ways. My friend was drenched in blood. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 . We were informed that all those who hadnt made it to the tarmac had died inside the aircraft. The firm's court filings estimate that $330 million is owed to Pan Am 73 survivors. Anyone can read what you share. We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. In the chaos and darkness, at least three doors had been opened, though it is not clear by whom. We were travelling to the USA for a series of performances. Nupoor saw them shoot near the feet of a colleague, shouting at her to lock the door. 270 people were killed, including 11 people in the town. Nobody knew what to do. 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 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. KERSHAW, Dorothea, Borrego Springs, Calif. TANEMURA, Roy, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. One of the survivors and also eyewitness of hijacked Pan-Am flight in the year 1986. 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 . Survivors of a 1986 terrorist attack on Pan Am 73 in Pakistan faced a nightmare together. See a Message on the 25th Anniversary of the Hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Her actions led to 359 of the 380 people on-board the plane managing to live through the ordeal. Two of the six remain in the industry. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. Meherjee Kharas, a 28-year-old Pan Am mechanic on board, was forced to make radio contact with negotiators outside. Another person who was on the wings jumped down and broke his legs. We were aware they took hold of Rajesh, a US national. Sunshine called Dilip over to help, and the two carried Neerja to the emergency slide. 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. On Mar. TANEMURA, Aya, Kelowna, Bristish Columbia, ?? Twenty people killed, more than 100 injured. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. December 12, 2002 - The government files a notice of its intent to seek the death penalty against defendant Safarini, as well as a legal brief in response to defendant Safarini's motion seeking to bar the availability of the death penalty in this case. 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.. They are breaking this silence now, they say, because they want to honour and acknowledge the vital roles played by all on board, most of whom are not known to the public. She went back to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. I knew if I didnt speak up for myself, this would haunt me for the rest of my life.. Captain Robert Bragg was the co-pilot aboard the Pan Am plane, and was one of the few who survived the collision. On September 5, 1986, Pan Am flight 73, a Boeing 747, departed Mumbai for New York with scheduled stops in Karchi and Frankfurt. Maul, Hawaii. I realised I had survived. We just started jumping. January 2008 - Pakistan reportedly released from jail the remaining four hijackers who had been convicted in 1988. '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. He held the gun in one hand and with the other he gave me water. This is where the fine print matters. And their battle offers a fascinating glimpse at the conflicts that erupt between victims and their lawyers. We were asked to hold our hands behind and bow 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. There were huge streaks of light breaking the darkness. ", 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 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. September 5, 2011- This date marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. No Thanks (Neerja Bhanot's pictures courtesy: Aneesh Bhanot). When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. Contact Scott Herhold at sherhold@mercurynews.com or 408-275-0917. 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. Pity that she was shot at. The FBI is hoping to generate new leads with the release of age-progressed images of four alleged terrorists involved in the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Pakistan that killed two Americans. When the day ended, almost everyone survived the hijack, thanks to Neerja's quick-thinking . He said he was looking for American fighter planes," says Sherene. I could have run to the terminus. These were the 2 cockpit observers who may as well be considered passengers, 2 flight attendants, and 12 passengers. Her husband, Sadanand Singh, said she was killed when she threw herself in front of her son and daughter. Each of the men is on the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorists List. . 25th 1977, two 747's crashed into each other in. 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. Meherjee, the mechanic, told Safarini that the emergency power would last 15 minutes or so before the aircraft would be plunged into darkness. From there, she went to work as a volunteer lawyer for the Northern California ACLU. 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. As they left the plane, Pratik pointed at his father and cried, Daddy, Daddy!. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. I was told to go alone and on my way back, I came across a water dispenser. 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 2010, the couple welcomed a daughter, Melanie naming their baby girl after Trahans late mother. 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. They occasionally worked the same flight and ran into each other at layovers. Gargi Dav argues that they could file in foreign courts. They let out a war cry," says Sunshine, "and began firing into the crowd. The terrorists began screaming in Arabic. At the plea proceeding on December 16th, the terms of the plea agreement will be made public and the defendant is expected to admit his guilt. Lynne Carol Hartunian , 21, Schenectady, N.Y. (SUNY Oswego) Anthony Lacey Hawkins , 57 . March 27, 1977 is a date permanently etched in aviation history. It was a strange feeling. Otherwise wed have panicked. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, The problem with Pablo Escobars hippos. A family from Karachi later got me clothes and shoes. 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. . Also, a sentencing date will be scheduled (probably for some time in the spring of 2004). Crash, 41 Celebrities Who Have Shared Their Miscarriage Stories, in the Hopes of Helping Others, See PEOPLE's Incredible 20-Year Journey Documenting the Children Whose Dads Died on 9/11, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Eventful Decade: From Their Royal Exit to Baby No. Sonam Kapoors Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. 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. 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. Neerja Bhanot. 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. as "extremely brave, selfless and clever". 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. Can religion save us from Artificial Intelligence? The letter also contained a handbook entitled "Coping After Terrorism: Information for Victims and Survivors of the Pan Am Flight #73 Hijacking. He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. BY xms3200 - Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:04 am. Trahan, dubbed the "Miracle Baby of Pan Am Flight 759," was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining no serious injuries. Tenerife killing approx. The men entered the Boeing 747, firing shots into the air. 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. Sunshine remained alert. . 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. . In a sense, hers is an utterly American stance. Mike Thexton, a passenger on the plane, describes the act in his book What Happened to The Hippy Man? She slid out the exit upside down. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head.. I knew we couldnt jump down from the high wing. We had to wait on the tarmac for 45 minutes for a transport vehicle to carry my mothers coffin. 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. Dark Mode. It's been over 25 years since the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73, in Karachi, Pakistan, and a number of survivors are renewing their calls to Congress for compensation from the Foreign Claims . We went to all the hospitals looking for our people. Somehow I managed to escape from the aircraft. Other terrified passengers had jumped down on top of her at Karachi, she explained. He was shot by the hijackers when, according to some other passengers, he objected to their rough treatment of a flight attendant. PUBLISHED 12:35 PM ET Oct. 18, 2019. I told the terrorist I wanted some water. Later, my friend and I had held another injured friend between our shoulders and escaped. And in any case, at least the three pilots were safe. The great eye opener though was the compassion shown by Pakistanis. She was killed while helping passengers to escape through emergency exits when hijackers opened fire and set off explosives during the 16-hour ordeal. About 7:00 pm on December 21, Pan Am flight 103, a Boeing 747 en route to New York City from . The Pan Am captain's name was Victor Grubbs. If we run across information about someone else, said the spokeswoman, who did not want to be identified, were not averse to passing it on. Subscribe Calling the fight sad and disheartening, Newberger said the sharing clause was originally put in the agreement to stop infighting among the 178 plaintiffs. Under the plea agreement announced in court, the government has agreed not to litigate further the Courts prior ruling that the death penalty was not available in this case in exchange for Safarini agreeing to the following terms, among other things: (1) a guilty plea to all 95 counts of the indictment; (2) an agreement that Safarini will be sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment on each count, with some counts to run consecutively and some to run concurrently, for a total sentence of three consecutive life sentences plus 25 years, which is equivalent to 160 years in prison; (3) an agreement that, as the result of the consecutive sentencing, there will be no mandatory parole release date for Safarini during his lifetime; (4) an acknowledgment that, despite the fact that Safarini will have a right to parole proceedings under governing law at the time the hijacking took place, the government intends to oppose his release on parole at any time during his lifetime; (5) an agreement by Safarini to waive any appeal of the sentence, to waive any collateral attack on the plea or the sentence and to forego any motion for reduction of sentence; and (6) an agreement that Safarini will cooperate whenever, and in whatever form, the United States shall reasonably request, including by testifying against his co-defendants, if and when any of them comes into United States custody.