Some Southlanders will not be coming home. It was dark and I was very scared.. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 583 people. '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. 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. 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. Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. She informed the pilots about the hijack and thats how the pilots could escape. She was killed while helping passengers to escape through emergency exits when hijackers opened fire and set off explosives during the 16-hour ordeal. On the hand he was he giving me water and on the other he was still a threat to my life. Outside, four gunmen had sped on to the tarmac in a van disguised as airport security. I lay down on my family, my small child and other baby . It was an American aircraft and Americans were their target. He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. 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. Thirty-two years later, Trahan, now 33, is a wife and mother who has learned to cope with unbelievable loss. Also meeting the plane was Harshad Shah, 40, a Los Angeles bank employee, who had waited through the days of fear and uncertainty to learn what had happened to his wife, Raksha; his 65-year-old mother, Jasumati; his son, Pratik, 3, and his daughter, Jignisha, 13. More than three decades after a bomb pierced the evening sky over Lockerbie, Scotland, the Syracuse University community carries on a tradition to honor the 35 study-abroad students killed on Pan Am Flight 103. Her actions led to 359 of the 380 people on-board the plane managing to live through the ordeal. The motions hearing will go forward on May 5, 2003. Also, a sentencing date will be scheduled (probably for some time in the spring of 2004). 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. Neerja's colleagues say she was still alive when she arrived at Karachi's Jinnah Hospital. Neerja may still be alive if she'd been cared for right away," says Sunshine. But I opted to carry a young lady, who was severely injured and sadly died in my arms. Profession: Chief Finance OfficerI was 23 then. 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). But, Pan Am Flight 214 . The US was paid 1.5 billion dollars in compensation by Libya. We used to give up that position for a bit, or talk and whisper to each other. We had a screening of Neerja for the survivors. All have coped in different ways. She fell on my shoulder, while I felt a hot ball of fire going up my feet. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head.. It showed they were ruthless killers," says Sunshine. 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. April 11, 2003 - A status hearing was held before Judge Sullivan. And their battle offers a fascinating glimpse at the conflicts that erupt between victims and their lawyers. My mother was trying to save me while Neerja saved other children.I wanted to use the loo. . 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. We landed on the wing. He stopped me from writing. They threw the hand grenades too, one of which fell on my friend Rupal, sitting next to me. Defendant Safarini will be held in prison pending trial. Share it now! TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Outside on the tarmac, Pan Am's Karachi director Viraf Doroga used a megaphone to begin negotiations with the hijackers. She went back to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. When the airhostess were asked to collect our passports, she was smart enough to not collect the US passports. The university's annual Remembrance Week, which runs October 20-26, features a candlelight vigil . Also known as Fatah-The Revolutionary Council, it is listed as a terrorist group by the United States, Israel and the European Union. That fateful night our tickets were not confirmed. She could have easily been the first one to escape but she chose to push everyone else out. She slid out upside down.". Otherwise wed have panicked. I turned more patriotic, pious and mind you not religious rather spiritual after this incident. 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. (Karen T. Borchers/Mercury News). 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. "It was 5th September 1986. Those who knew and loved these people will never forget the moment they discovered the nearly unbearable truth. Our responsibility is to assist U.S. citizens.. These charges will serve as the basis for the upcoming criminal trial of defendant Safarini. A survivor of 1986 Pan Am hijack, Murthy shuddered as the dreadful moment flashed before his eyes. KENNER, La. Its always been an active case of ours, saidthe leadFBI agenton the case. "My mother died while shielding and protecting me. There was complete chaos at the Sahar airport when we returned. A sentencing date is now set for May 12, 2004. February 12, 2003 - Legal arguments were held before Judge Sullivan, with the attorneys for the government and the defense arguing their positions on the defendant's motion seeking to bar the death penalty in this case. The other four defendants convicted in connection with the hijacking remain in jail in Pakistan. Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Initiative, View a copy of the Court's legal opinion on the availability of the death penalty in this case, See a copy of the Government's Sentencing Memorandum, Transcript of Sentencing Proceeding - May 13, 2004, See a Message on the 25th Anniversary of the Hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. At one point she looked longingly at the emergency axe in a glass box in the cockpit. It changed my perception. The Pakistani military boarded the plane and the ensuing shootout killed 22 people. He was not related to Kuverben Patel, 80, Kumars grandmother, who was also among the passengers killed. They had only genuine feelings for us and our country. Nobody knew what to do. And Davs attorney, Lee Boyd, says the law firm erred by not expressly including the possibility of a treaty in its Joint Prosecuting Agreement. At the . On that night, Dec. 8, 1963, Flight 214, a Pan American Airways Boeing 707, was returning to the U.S. from from San Juan, Puerto Rico. One person opened the door that led to the wing of the plane. The victims were recognized for their extraordinary bravery during the September 5, 1986 terrorist hijacking of Pan Am . The four suspectsWadoud Muhammad Hafiz al-Turki, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, Muhammad Abdullah Khalil Hussain ar-Rahayyal, and Muhammad Ahmed al-Munawarare believed to have been members of the Abu Nidal Organization, which was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State. BKELUND, Christine, New York, flight attendant, HIRANO, Sachiko, New York, fight attendant, LUKER, Marilyn. Nevertheless, Crowell & Mooring has insisted that the sharing provision applies. 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 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.". As part of that agreement, the Dav sisters signed a document called a Joint Prosecuting Agreement, which obligated them to share money from any judgments with all the Crowell & Moring plaintiffs, including non-Americans. (From top left): Nupoor, Sunshine, Sherene, Dilip. Neerja swayed the terrorists to allow us to use the washroom telling them that the passengers would cooperate better if they were allowed. 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. Doctors did not think shed recover. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. Neerja Bhanot was working as a senior flight attendant for Pan American World Airways when tragedy struck on the morning of Sept. 5, 1986. This 747-121 was a big one, the kind with a second-floor lounge at the front of the plane where passengers could sit and have a drink. He showed so much grace in trouble, barring borders and perceptions. February 10, 2003 - The attorneys for the defense and the government filed pretrial motions and notices. That didnt make sense to Gargi Dav, who read the law firms demands with a trained lawyers eye. 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. Nupoor saw them shoot near the feet of a colleague, shouting at her to lock the door. He said he was looking for American fighter planes," says Sherene. The court set a briefing schedule regarding the government's motion to reconsider the death penalty ruling. Trahan, dubbed the "Miracle Baby of Pan Am Flight 759," was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining no serious injuries. 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 . 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. Maybe, it was a sign from God to avoid flying but somehow we managed to take the flight. 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. Basically, they would be taking away 90 percent of the money, she said. He said of a family of four sitting across the aisle from him: Two of them were killed and the others were wounded.. When the day ended, almost everyone survived the hijack, thanks to Neerja's quick-thinking . Aside from one sharp kick, he says, he was not physically mistreated and eventually escaped with others in the later chaos. 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. Those who were sitting straight got shot in the legs while others who had ducked got shot in the heads as their guns were pointed downwards. The other 259 people aboard the aircraft died when the bomb blew apart the jetliner Dec. 21, 1988 or were killed by the 30,000-foot fall . List of Dead and Survivors on Pan American Plane, https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/29/archives/list-of-dead-and-survivors-on-pan-american-plane.html. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 of whom were preparing for take-off. For her part, Gargi firmly rejects the notion that she is trying to put herself ahead of any other victim. On September 5, 1986, Thexton boarded Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi. I told the terrorist I wanted some water. Dark Mode. The passenger plane crashed in a residential area of Kenner soon after . We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. At least 29 other passengers, including 24 American citizens, were being treated at U.S. military hospitals in West Germany. She hopes that, in speaking out, "we can all connect through our survival stories and form a fabric of power and strength going forward". 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. An official website of the United States government. '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. Suresh GopalkrishnanProfession: Businessman, ChennaiAge: 55I was a carefree and free-spirited 23 year old boy, working with a German company, on my way to Paris. THOMAS, Carol, New York, flight attendant. I knew non-Americans could go to their own governments. Sherene, and another colleague Ranee Vaswani, were the last two hostages to leave the plane. 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. (Photo: AP) In 2003, Zayd Safrini pleaded guilty to 95 charges which included . All 259 people on board were killed, and 11 individuals on the ground also died. 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. Janki Vyas VasantProfession: Founder of Samvedna, an NGOAge: 51At the tender age of 20, I saw death so closely, losing two of my close friend and a teacher. New Delhi, UPDATED: Sep 5, 2017 17:13 IST. 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. From there, she went to work as a volunteer lawyer for the Northern California ACLU. 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. . 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. Lynn Hartunian, 21, who was a student at SUNY Oswego, was one of the passengers killed on Pan Am Flight 103. Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America. We found a few people but not all. 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. There were huge streaks of light breaking the darkness. Most . 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 . 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. Over a long time, it looked like the Dav sisters and the rest of the passengers on the Pan Am flight would never see a penny in compensation for their suffering. 25-30 passengers were killed and a large number were injured. . But for how long could one possibly bow down? 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 gunmen positioned themselves on either side of the aisles. On March 27, 1977, the most shocking and deadliest air disaster happened, changing the aviation world forever. The PanAm had also survivors, before the names of the survivors appears a * Content of the page: Crewlist of the PanAm. Eventually the militants threatened that, as a pilot had not materialised, a passenger would be shot every 15 minutes. The crash killed all 146 other people aboard the plane, as well as eight Kenner residents, including Trahans mother and 4-year-old sister. 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. 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. 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. We went to all the hospitals looking for our people. 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. Khanjan Dalal, who survived the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 in September 1986, has lauded Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja". We had no choice but to follow the terrorists instructions. Somehow I managed to escape from the aircraft. As they left the plane, Pratik pointed at his father and cried, Daddy, Daddy!. 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. 2023 BBC. Over the next few hours on the upper deck, Safarini let his guard down several times, Sunshine says. The Pan Am captain's name was Victor Grubbs. One of those survivors was Purser Sherene says she knew then that time was running out. Captain Robert Bragg was the co-pilot aboard the Pan Am plane, and was one of the few who survived the collision. 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. 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. "I noticed immediately that the escape devices in the cockpit had been deployed. 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. Mike was made to sit on the floor, and like the other passengers, keep his hands above his head.

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