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. The Indian-born couple had taken their children on a vacation to Bombay and were returning home when the aircraft was commandeered. I could see the terrorists walking up and down the aisle, trying to negotiate. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. I turned more patriotic, pious and mind you not religious rather spiritual after this incident. 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. She was allowed to lie down. 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. Please use portrait mode for best experience. The powerful emotions that stick in Gargi Davs 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 survival with the resolve not to be victimized again. A passenger informed that his mother had probably had died inside. The terrorists began screaming in Arabic. Sunshine called Dilip over to help, and the two carried Neerja to the emergency slide. 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. Although the hijackers had closed the doors and lowered the shutters earlier, the air conditioning and lights had been on. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. 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. The pilot picked up on her second attempt and she relayed the hijack code. He said of a family of four sitting across the aisle from him: Two of them were killed and the others were wounded.. Those who knew and loved these people will never forget the moment they discovered the nearly unbearable truth. Meherjee, the mechanic, told Safarini that the emergency power would last 15 minutes or so before the aircraft would be plunged into darkness. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. In panic mode, they opened gunfire. We were aware they took hold of Rajesh, a US national. I realised I couldnt stand. 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 was drenched in her blood. We were told to raise our hands and sit. He said she related, It was all confusion and panic. I started running towards the terminus. 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. 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 . But Pan-American Flight 759 crashed . 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. 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. Answer (1 of 6): Of all of the 61 survivors of Pan Am Flight 1736 (the flight that had survivors come out), only 16 people came out without injuries. They pushed her down first, then jumped out themselves. Aside from one sharp kick, he says, he was not physically mistreated and eventually escaped with others in the later chaos. Pity that she was shot at. At the center of that showdown is their 16-hour ordeal, during which the gunmen killed 20 passengers and wounded more than 100. 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.. 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. It was a strange feeling. The other hijackers were released from their Pakistani jail in 2008, against the wishes of India and the US. Sonam Kapoor's Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. 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. KERSHAW, Dorothea, Borrego Springs, Calif. TANEMURA, Roy, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. 'Grey's Anatomy' Cast: Where Are They Now? The hijacking of Flight 73 was a botched precursor to 9/11. I thought we were going to die, George said. And their battle offers a fascinating glimpse at the conflicts that erupt between victims and their lawyers. 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. They have thrown every bit of their resources into trying to shut her up.. The Pakistani military boarded the plane and the ensuing shootout killed 22 people. Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. August 28, 2002 - A 95-count superseding indictment is returned by a grand jury in the District of Columbia, charging defendant Safarini and four co-defendants. On the hand he was he giving me water and on the other he was still a threat to my life. He made me wear a burkha and we stepped out as the security wasnt allowing me to step out. Maul, Hawaii. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . Its always been an active case of ours, saidthe leadFBI agenton the case. Safarini was still on board when Pakistan's security forces entered the plane. The PanAm had also survivors, before the names of the survivors appears a * Content of the page: Crewlist of the PanAm. The Pan Am captain's name was Victor Grubbs. After escaping out an emergency window, Gargi and her sister, Giatri, were badly injured when they fell from wing to ground. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! I knew we couldnt jump down from the high wing. Unable to fly the plane, the terrorists started by executing an American and dumping his body out the door of the plane. More information will be provided on submitting a victim impact statement at a later date. 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. It was dark and I was very scared.. Not hearing any more gunfire, but not knowing where the gunmen were, they went back into the dark plane to look for survivors. For her part, Gargi firmly rejects the notion that she is trying to put herself ahead of any other victim. 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. Become a Member. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. When her dead body arrived in Mumbai, she looked fresh and beautiful because all her wounds were on her back.Had there been a VIP or a minister on our plane; all the lives would have been saved. New Delhi, UPDATED: Sep 5, 2017 17:13 IST. When the doors were thrown open, I realised I had jumped onto the wing. PARKER, Isabella, Capistrano Bench, Calif. PENKSTAFF, Mrs. Charles San Diego, Calif. SEACRIST, Katherine, Lthaina. 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. The $5 million reward is offered through the State Departments Rewards for Justice Program. There was complete chaos at the Sahar airport when we returned. Thats when the aggressive terrorist came up to us with his gun, warning us not to talk. She fell on my shoulder, while I felt a hot ball of fire going up my feet. I experienced compassion from a stranger, that too a Pakistani. 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. Courageous crew members like Sunshine went back into the plane to look for survivors when the gunfire ceased and found . 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. TANEMURA, Aya, Kelowna, Bristish Columbia, ?? The victims were recognized for their extraordinary bravery during the September 5, 1986 terrorist hijacking of Pan Am . The government argues that the death penalty is available for defendant Safarini's violation of the air piracy statute. (Credits: Solo shots - individuals' own; group shot: Pan Am crew Facebook page), The crew now: (From top left to bottom right), all credits to the individuals) Sherene, Massey, Madhvi, Sunshine, Dilip, Nupoor, Passenger Mike Thexton has praised the flight attendants' bravery, A film has recently been released about Neerja Bhanot, who was fatally injured in the hijack. '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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Gargi Dave, at home in Sunnyvale, talks about her case on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. You can argue that setting aside the lawsuit brought by Crowell & Moring was one of the benefits to Libya in signing a pact and therefore that the lawyers deserve some payment for their work. They gave us strength. Later, as Pakistani commandos prepared to raid, the gunmen opened fire inside the cabin. He caught me doing that and asked whether I was a journalist. Once the death penalty issue is resolved, including any appeal, if one is filed, a new trial date will be set. "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. "See a copy of the Government's Sentencing Memorandum, See a copy of the text of the prosecutors' allocution narrative during the sentencing proceeding, View the PowerPoint presentation shown by the prosecutors during the sentencing proceeding, Read the Government's press release concerning the sentencing, See a copy of the Transcript of Sentencing Proceeding - May 12, 2004, See a copy of the Transcript of Sentencing Proceeding - May 13, 2004, Week of July 5, 2004 - Defendant Safarini was transferred by the Bureau of Prisons to the Administrative Maximum facility in Florence, Colorado, also referred to as "SuperMax.". Interim status hearing dates were set for February 18, 2004, and April 14, 2004. He repeatedly led either Sunshine or Sherene at gunpoint up to the upper deck cockpit, using them as human shields while he peeked round them to have a look outside. 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. Passengerlist of the PamAm. 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 . An official website of the United States government. I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. The court suspended the hearing before it was completed due to a lack of sufficient interpreters for the defendant. Nobody knew what to do. 2 and Beyond, FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Shocking Death of Princess Diana, 25 Years Ago Today. They didn't discuss the hijack. Neerja may still be alive if she'd been cared for right away," says Sunshine. 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 . I told the terrorist I wanted some water. Eventually the militants threatened that, as a pilot had not materialised, a passenger would be shot every 15 minutes. 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. 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. But, Pan Am Flight 214 . 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. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the FBI or submit a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . 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 became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. 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. Victim impact statements should be submitted to the prosecution team by March 1, 2004. Gargi Dav (pronounced Dah-VAY) is now a 34-year-old attorney who lives in Sunnyvale. Print. The door nearest the wing had been opened in manual, which meant that the emergency slide did not deploy. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. When the day ended, almost everyone survived the hijack, thanks to Neerja's quick-thinking . 1988 - Five men are convicted in Pakistan for their roles in the hijacking. We had to wait on the tarmac for 45 minutes for a transport vehicle to carry my mothers coffin. 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. The Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO) is a Palestinian militant group, now considered largely inactive. 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. "Neerja was put into the ambulance without a stretcher.". September 5, 2011- This date marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Her sister suffered severe damage to her feet when she leapt from the plane. 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. (Photo: AP) In 2003, Zayd Safrini pleaded guilty to 95 charges which included . I realised I was completely drenched in my mothers blood. Being fond of writing, I was jotting down my feelings on a piece of paper. As the shooting began to die down, said George, a flight attendant called out that an emergency exit was open. Outside, four gunmen had sped on to the tarmac in a van disguised as airport security. The motion will be argued on July 21, 2003. I t was September 5, 1986. Neerja Bhanot. Witness is a programme of the . We had a screening of Neerja for the survivors. She went back to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. Also known as Fatah-The Revolutionary Council, it is listed as a terrorist group by the United States, Israel and the European Union. We had no choice but to follow the terrorists instructions. Eventually, she moved back to New Orleans and married Joe Ferrara, whom she called the boy next door in the Times-Picayune story. 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. She had been shot in the lower left leg as she rushed to an emergency exit and her back and neck were injured when she jumped down to the tarmac. It showed they were ruthless killers," says Sunshine. PAN AM Flight 73 - Another Perspectiveby: Purnima Subhash Hardikar TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Khanjan Dalal, who survived the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 in September 1986, has lauded Sonam Kapoor starrer "Neerja". 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. 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. Three lives would be saved.". We were pushed to another compartment of the aircraft. Share it now! August 29, 1991 - A 126-count indictment is returned under seal (i.e., in secret) by a grand jury in the District of Columbia. View a copy of the Court's legal opinion on the availability of the death penalty in this case. When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. '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.
