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 . Neerja Bhanot. Tenerife killing approx. My mother was trying to save me while Neerja saved other children.I wanted to use the loo. Age: 40Profession: ArtistI was 12 then and travelling with my mother Trupti Dalal. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. I hid below the seats so I was saved. Her husband, Sadanand Singh, said she was killed when she threw herself in front of her son and daughter. The government argues that the death penalty is available for defendant Safarini's violation of the air piracy statute. "Neerja's life may have been saved were conditions in the hospital better.". . April 11, 2003 - A status hearing was held before Judge Sullivan. The next status hearing in the case is now scheduled for Monday May 19, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. "It was 5th September 1986. Neerja Bhanot. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. Unable to fly the plane, the terrorists started by executing an American and dumping his body out the door of the plane. October 17, 1990. Sixteen-month-old Melissa Trahan, on stretcher, is rushed from the scene of the crash of Pan Am Flight 759 in Kenner, La. But I opted to carry a young lady, who was severely injured and sadly died in my arms. Basically, they would be taking away 90 percent of the money, she said. 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. Become a Member. 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. as "extremely brave, selfless and clever". The couple grabbed their daughters and ran to the exit, only to find themselves on a wing, 18 feet above the ground, without an escape chute. 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. 'Grey's Anatomy' Cast: Where Are They Now? In a sense, hers is an utterly American stance. Most . Neerja had been shot in her hip and was bleeding heavily, but was conscious. The Boeing 747, known as the Clipper Maid of the Seas, left London Heathrow with 243 passengers and 16 crew members, including 189 Americans. Among them was Kankuben Gala, 67, of Tustin, who also was in a wheelchair. 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. One lady amongst us, Trupti, complained of a headache. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when . Meherjee Kharas, a 28-year-old Pan Am mechanic on board, was forced to make radio contact with negotiators outside. As the shooting began to die down, said George, a flight attendant called out that an emergency exit was open. We landed on the wing. Once the death penalty issue is resolved, including any appeal, if one is filed, a new trial date will be set. TORRECH . The victims were recognized for their extraordinary bravery during the September 5, 1986 terrorist hijacking of Pan Am . We had to wait on the tarmac for 45 minutes for a transport vehicle to carry my mothers coffin. He made me wear a burkha and we stepped out as the security wasnt allowing me to step out. They didn't discuss the hijack. They let out a war cry," says Sunshine, "and began firing into the crowd. We went back inside trying to exit from another door during which we lost each other. At the center of that showdown is their 16-hour ordeal, during which the gunmen killed 20 passengers and wounded more than 100. 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. He held the gun in one hand and with the other he gave me water. ", 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. I wanted to save my family.. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . But, Pan Am Flight 214 . . Pan Am flight 103, also called Lockerbie bombing, flight of a passenger airliner operated by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, after a bomb was detonated. At the airport we identified them and they were captured by the security officials. Gargi Dave was among the survivors of a shootout aboard a jetliners hijacked by Pakistani terrorists. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. The US was paid 1.5 billion dollars in compensation by Libya. More information will be provided on submitting a victim impact statement at a later date. All have coped in different ways. Although the hijackers had closed the doors and lowered the shutters earlier, the air conditioning and lights had been on. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. On Pan Am 1736, seven of the 16-member flight crew, along with two company employees and 61 passengers, survived, although nine later died of their injuries. And in any case, at least the three pilots were safe. Three lives would be saved.". (Karen T. Borchers/Mercury News). Nupoor and Madhvi slipped off the edge of the wing, fracturing bones as they hit the tarmac around 20 feet (6 metres) below. Safarini, mid-joke, caught her and immediately pointed the gun at her head. He spoke to Witness about that terrible disaster. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. Galas son, Bharat, 32, an Orange County motel owner, met her Monday and interpreted for her. I thought we were going to die, George said. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. We went to all the hospitals looking for our people. I knew we couldnt jump down from the high wing. Age: 50Profession: BusinessmanI was 21 then. Victim impact statements can be given in written or recorded form, and a limited number of victims will be permitted to give in-court testimony. TANEMURA, Aya, Kelowna, Bristish Columbia, ?? There was a buzz that they had a time bomb on them, which could explode. At the conclusion of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan sentenced the defendant to three consecutive life terms plus 25 years, for a total of 160 years. As they left the plane, Pratik pointed at his father and cried, Daddy, Daddy!. Witness is a programme of the . Like I say, there are many shades of gray here. Hassan Abd Latif Safarini appeared in court Wednesday to begin the sentencing phase for his role as lead hijacker of Pan Am Flight 73. 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. 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. 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. See a Message on the 25th Anniversary of the Hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Had they not, the terrorists would have taken the flight somewhere and blown up the aircraft. "It was chaotic, like a war zone, in there. In 1986, Pakistani terrorists hijacked a US-bound plane in a drama that left 22 passengers dead. Another Southern Californian who died was Kala Singh, a resident alien who lived in La Jolla. 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. It was one of the deadliest airplane crashes in the history of the U.S. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. The motions hearing will go forward on May 5, 2003. emailStay Connected 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. Neerja Bhanot was working as a senior flight attendant for Pan American World Airways when tragedy struck on the morning of Sept. 5, 1986. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. (In group shot - far left): Massey. 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. 270 people were killed, including 11 people in the town. I realised I had survived. May 9, 2003 - The government filed a motion for the court to reconsider its ruling barring the United States from Seeking the Death Penalty in this case. We were helpless, said Mary George, 37, of Norwalk. 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. Somehow I managed to escape from the aircraft. An airhostess, who felt unwell, too lay down next to Trupti. Documents on this page are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Please use portrait mode for best experience. But a New York law firm is trying to wrest 90 percent of the settlement away from Dave and nine other survivors. [17], One of the four, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, was allegedly killed in a dr 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. 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. At the sentencing in the spring of 2004, 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. "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.". A sentencing date is now set for May 12, 2004. "That day, knowingly or unknowingly, we came together as a team and played our parts to the best of our ability," says Massey Casper, another steward. 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. 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. Profession: Chief Finance OfficerI was 23 then. PARKER, Isabella, Capistrano Bench, Calif. PENKSTAFF, Mrs. Charles San Diego, Calif. SEACRIST, Katherine, Lthaina. 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 . 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. 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. 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. If we didnt speak up for ourselves, I cant tell you how victimized we would feel, she said. Saturday marked 40 years since Pan Am 759 crashed into a Kenner neighborhood, killing all 146 people on board and eight people on the ground.The only survivor on the ground was 16 . Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Gargi Dave, at home in Sunnyvale, talks about her case on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. 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. Can religion save us from Artificial Intelligence? A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. When no pilot materialised within the hour, Mr Kumar was shot and kicked out of the plane. A family from Karachi later got me clothes and shoes. "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. The crash killed all 146 other people aboard the plane, as well as eight Kenner residents, including Trahans mother and 4-year-old sister. By law, the government will have 30 days to decide whether to appeal this ruling. 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. The Pan Am captain's name was Victor Grubbs. See a copy of the superseding indictment. They made 300 passengers move to the front of the economy cabin. Meanwhile, inside the plane, 29-year-old American passenger Rajesh Kumar was pulled out of his seat and made to kneel in front of one of the open doors, with a gun to his head. Anyone can read what you share. Then we were told to rest our heads on our hands and bend down. We were travelling to the USA for a series of performances. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 of whom were preparing for take-off. Lynn Hartunian, 21, who was a student at SUNY Oswego, was one of the passengers killed on Pan Am Flight 103. He told the four men that the airport authorities were looking for pilots to fly them where they needed to go. Print. The letters provided information about defendant Safarini's guilty plea and encouraged victims to attend the scheduled sentencing proceeding. 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. Massey had already exited down the slide just moments earlier, taking three unaccompanied children with him. Sherene and Sunshine were the cabin crew who spent the most time with lead hijacker Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini. After the terrorists opened fire, I lay down flat fearing I could get killed any moment. 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. There was complete chaos at the Sahar airport when we returned. When the survivors recall the deadly memory, their hearts start racing and their spines become chilled. Onboard: 73 passengers and eight crew members. There were huge streaks of light breaking the darkness. February 10, 2003 - The attorneys for the defense and the government filed pretrial motions and notices. 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. I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. They had only genuine feelings for us and our country. We just started jumping. Our tickets got confirmed at the last moment in Pan-Am Flight-73, which was headed to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt from . A certain Mr. Mohammadbhai, a businessman from Karachi, known to a relative of Utpala came to us asking if he could help. He had grenades on him. He stopped me from writing. I lay down on my family, my small child and other baby . No one aboard the KLM aircraft survived, and only 71 people escaped from the Pan Am wreckage. When our flight landed in Karachi, the hijackers entered the aircraft wearing security guard uniforms. Those hours were torturous. The flight attendants were supportive, smart and composed throughout. It showed they were ruthless killers," says Sunshine. 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. On Mar. Herhold: The heritage of a 24-year-old hijacking, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early. 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. We used to give up that position for a bit, or talk and whisper to each other. Calling the fight sad and disheartening, Newberger said the sharing clause was originally put in the agreement to stop infighting among the 178 plaintiffs. Courageous crew members like Sunshine went back into the plane to look for survivors when the gunfire ceased and found . 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. 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. There was gunfire. I knew non-Americans could go to their own governments. He said she related, It was all confusion and panic. Now eight of them - led by Sunnyvale attorney Gargi Dave, who was 10 years old during the ordeal and is due a $3 million payment -are fighting a New York law firm's efforts to wrest away 90 percent of those settlements. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. SARP, Aytel, Arlington. No Thanks When the airhostess were asked to collect our passports, she was smart enough to not collect the US passports. These were the 2 cockpit observers who may as well be considered passengers, 2 flight attendants, and 12 passengers. December 3, 2009 - The FBI announced that it has added the four fugitive hijackers to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list. From there, she went to work as a volunteer lawyer for the Northern California ACLU. 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. Students who switched tickets escaped the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. Grubbs was not among the survivors. Trahan graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in theater production and moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Disney Studios. Nearly 361 passengers, ground crew and 13 flight attendants spent 16 . Crew list PanAm *Grubbs, Victor Captain *Bragg, Robert First Officer *Warns, George W. Flight Engineer Another person who was on the wings jumped down and broke his legs. She slid out upside down.". More information will be provided to victims concerning submitting a victim impact. We don't support landscape mode. My friend was drenched in blood. The Pan Am Flight 73 on its way from Mumbai to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt was . 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. August 29, 1991 - A 126-count indictment is returned under seal (i.e., in secret) by a grand jury in the District of Columbia. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Sullivan took the matter under advisement and will issue a written decision at a later date. 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. We found a few people but not all. It was dark and I was very scared.. April 10, 2003 - The Court issued a legal opinion, ruling that the death penalty is not available in this case. One of the four hijackers, Mrs. George recalled, said Americans killed his wife and whole family. The Pan Am 73 terrorist attack killed 20 passengers and crew and severely injured more than 100 of the 380 persons on board. They were on Pan Am Flight 1736. She went to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. That plot was averted when the pilots climbed out of an emergency cockpit of the Boeing 747. Scott Herhold is a former San Jose metro columnist. "Neerja was put into the ambulance without a stretcher.". Neerja may still be alive if she'd been cared for right away," says Sunshine. Today, shes taken a leave from her San Diego-based firm to help with the Flight 73 litigation. The Court will allow the government to file additional briefs on some of the pending legal motions by April 22, 2003, and the attorneys for the defendant will be permitted to file any responding briefs by April 29, 2003. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 . The defendant's response will be due on May 30, 2003, and the government's reply will be due on June 16, 2003. Years later, the Libyan government admitted having planned the attack and agreed to US demands to pay compensation to the American citizens onboard. MUMBAI-Neerja Bhanot died on the night of Sept. 5, 1986, after terrorists killed her for helping passengers escape Pan Am Flight 73 hijacked at Karachi airport, Pakistan. The survivors of the Pan Am 73 hijacked flight say that 'Neerja' unfairly depicts only one side of the story. Making sure that victims of crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. It was an American aircraft and Americans were their target. 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? Four terrorists took position in four corners of the cabin and started shooting and throwing grenades. I climbed back into the aircraft and then ran to the rear exit. 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 . Budget 2023. At the . Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. One was naturalized citizen Rajesh Kumar, 29, of Huntington Beach. The Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO), which they were members of, was opposed to US and Israeli policy in the Middle East. I was wondering if the Pan Am pilots are still living, or even the cabin crew. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? September 5, 2011- This date marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Survivors that later died.

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