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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. Meherjee, the mechanic, told Safarini that the emergency power would last 15 minutes or so before the aircraft would be plunged into darkness. The Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO), which they were members of, was opposed to US and Israeli policy in the Middle East. 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. At least 29 other passengers, including 24 American citizens, were being treated at U.S. military hospitals in West Germany. Va., flight attendant, THOMAS, Carol, New York, flight attendant, TORRECH, Miguel, New York, flight attendant. I knew if I didnt speak up for myself, this would haunt me for the rest of my life.. A 16-hour standoff at Jinnah International Airport in Karchi ended with 22 hostages dead and some 150 injured. I hid below the seats so I was saved. These charges will serve as the basis for the upcoming criminal trial of defendant Safarini. 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. We were pushed to another compartment of the aircraft. After escaping out an emergency window, Gargi and her sister, Giatri, were badly injured when they fell from wing to ground. 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 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. Share it now! 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. After being rushed to the hospital by two Pakistani men at the airport, Gargi Dav slipped into a coma. Passengerlist of the PamAm. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Gargi Dav argues that they could file in foreign courts. Lynne Carol Hartunian , 21, Schenectady, N.Y. (SUNY Oswego) Anthony Lacey Hawkins , 57 . PUBLISHED 12:35 PM ET Oct. 18, 2019. The attack, which occurred aboard Pan Am Flight 73 during an airport stopover in Karachi, resulted in the deaths of 20 passengers and crew. 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. 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 flight attendant smiled throughout the incident despite the fear surrounding her," Mitra said. 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. Three of the hijackers were fleeing the airport when they were caught by airport security. Most . The hearing on motions not related to the death penalty will continue on September 10, 2003, not on June 16, 2003, as previously scheduled. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. See a copy of the superseding indictment. I saw Neerja closely when she was collecting passports and another time when they were serving us refreshments.When the terrorists opened fire, my mother fell down injured,while trying to protect and shield me from the bullets. 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. Fellow attendant Sunshine Vesuwala saw one of the hijackers grab a colleague, Neerja Bhanot, and put a gun to her head. It was dark and I was very scared.. 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. "Many have criticised the pilots for leaving the rest of the crew behind, but I was relieved when I saw the pilots were gone, as we were all safer on the ground than we would be in the air. At the . Remembering Neerja Bhanot on hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. Onboard: 73 passengers and eight crew members. We had a screening of Neerja for the survivors. Her older sister is a physician with a practice in Southern California. More information will be provided to victims concerning submitting a victim impact. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 . ", 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. 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 . Crew list PanAm *Grubbs, Victor Captain *Bragg, Robert First Officer *Warns, George W. Flight Engineer 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. Neerja was standing right next to the exit. September 5, 2011- This date marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. When the firing stopped, I ran to the front and someone pushed me out from the exit. 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. Somehow I managed to escape from the aircraft. Not hearing any more gunfire, but not knowing where the gunmen were, they went back into the dark plane to look for survivors. Trahan, dubbed the "Miracle Baby of Pan Am Flight 759," was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining no serious injuries. On the hand he was he giving me water and on the other he was still a threat to my life. 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. The university's annual Remembrance Week, which runs October 20-26, features a candlelight vigil . 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. 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. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. 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. One of the four hijackers, Mrs. George recalled, said Americans killed his wife and whole family. I started running towards the terminus. Neerja Bhanot was working as a senior flight attendant for Pan American World Airways when tragedy struck on the morning of Sept. 5, 1986. He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. In the chaos and darkness, at least three doors had been opened, though it is not clear by whom. A certain Mr. Mohammadbhai, a businessman from Karachi, known to a relative of Utpala came to us asking if he could help. 270 people were killed, including 11 people in the town. The firm's court filings estimate that $330 million is owed to Pan Am 73 survivors. 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. All 259 people on board were killed, and 11 individuals on the ground also died. 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. It showed they were ruthless killers," says Sunshine. Students who switched tickets escaped the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. 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 . The next status hearing in the case is now scheduled for Monday May 19, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. PARKER, Isabella, Capistrano Bench, Calif. PENKSTAFF, Mrs. Charles San Diego, Calif. SEACRIST, Katherine, Lthaina. (From top left): Nupoor, Sunshine, Sherene, Dilip. 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. They threw the hand grenades too, one of which fell on my friend Rupal (18), sitting next to me. This is where the fine print matters. My co-passenger, a German national, woke me up informing that our plane was hijacked. Maul, Hawaii. Va., flight attendant. The Indian-born couple had taken their children on a vacation to Bombay and were returning home when the aircraft was commandeered. September 5, 1986 - Hijacking of Pan Am flight #73 in Karachi, Pakistan. She persuaded them to let the children drink water too. And in any case, at least the three pilots were safe. 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. DE BEAULIEU, Francoise Colbert, New York ?? Aside from one sharp kick, he says, he was not physically mistreated and eventually escaped with others in the later chaos. Ill get to the details in a second. These were the 2 cockpit observers who may as well be considered passengers, 2 flight attendants, and 12 passengers. Anyone can read what you share. It was one of the deadliest airplane crashes in the history of the U.S. When our flight landed in Karachi, the hijackers entered the aircraft wearing security guard uniforms. (Karen T. Borchers/Mercury News). 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. These sentences are later commuted to life sentences. 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. The passenger plane crashed in a residential area of Kenner soon after . The FBIs Hazardous Devices School at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama is the only facility in the country that trains and certifies the nations public safety bomb technicians. (In group shot - far left): Massey. 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She informed the pilots about the hijack and thats how the pilots could escape. We were told to raise our hands and sit. Massey had already exited down the slide just moments earlier, taking three unaccompanied children with him. August 29, 1991 - A 126-count indictment is returned under seal (i.e., in secret) by a grand jury in the District of Columbia. One of the survivors and also eyewitness of hijacked Pan-Am flight in the year 1986. She slid out the exit upside down. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The case is being investigated by the Bureaus Washington Field Office. 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. Today, the California sisters, along with several other passengers from Flight 73, are locked in a legal struggle with the law firm that represented them in the battle to win damages from the government of Libya, which funded the hijackers. The hijacker didn't seem to know much about the plane so he didn't look for it," says Sunshine. While on a routine stopover in Pakistan, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four armed Palestinian terrorists. 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. I told the terrorist I wanted some water. We stood still and numb, long after the end credits rolled. Members Only. Neerja had been shot in her hip and was bleeding heavily, but was conscious. 'Grey's Anatomy' Cast: Where Are They Now? What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Survivors of a 1986 terrorist attack on Pan Am 73 in Pakistan faced a nightmare together. We were informed that all those who hadnt made it to the tarmac had died inside the aircraft. The adrenaline was doing its work until I realised I had a major injury. 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. Although the hijackers had closed the doors and lowered the shutters earlier, the air conditioning and lights had been on. He showed so much grace in trouble, barring borders and perceptions. When the day ended, almost everyone survived the hijack, thanks to Neerja's quick-thinking . Those hours were torturous. "I noticed immediately that the escape devices in the cockpit had been deployed. We sat in that position for almost three hours.After a point we couldnt help but plead them to let us use the washrooms. 25th 1977, two 747's crashed into each other in. HIRANO, Sachiko, New York, fight attendant. Survivors condemn hijacker in Pan Am massacre . 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 . As soon as his prayer was over, they started firing indiscriminately. Flight attendant Sherene Pavan, who was out of sight of the militants, heard the commotion, reached for the intercom and pressed the emergency number to the cockpit. Pan Am Flight 73 had just touched down in Karachi after departing from Mumbai, India, and was en route to Germany and then New York when the Palestinian gunmen commandeered it around 6:00 a.m. that fateful September day. Courtesy Gargi Dave -- A ten-year-old Gargi Dave, left, is kissed and comforted by her mother, Niru in the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. It was blamed for a string of attacks in the 1970s and 80s, killing and wounding hundreds of people, The Pan Am crew were recognised with courage awards by the airline in 1986, the US Department of Justice in 2005 and the US attorney general in 2006. The United States Attorney's Office In Your Neighborhood. We just started jumping. . They were at every exit trying to push us out of the aircraft. On December 21, Pan Am 103 was beginning the second leg of its Frankfurt-London-New York-Detroit route. 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. As they left the plane, Pratik pointed at his father and cried, Daddy, Daddy!. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when . He said he was looking for American fighter planes," says Sherene. Her husband, Sadanand Singh, said she was killed when she threw herself in front of her son and daughter. We were even scared to look at him.. 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. Three lives would be saved.". They pushed her down first, then jumped out themselves. 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. I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.Neerja was an excellent airhostess. 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? As evening set in, the on-board power supply started to dwindle, the lights got dimmer and the cool air stopped circulating. Outside on the tarmac, Pan Am's Karachi director Viraf Doroga used a megaphone to begin negotiations with the hijackers. They climbed back in through the door they had come through, and along with Sherene and another colleague, assisted and redirected passengers to the inflated slide. 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. Among them was Kankuben Gala, 67, of Tustin, who also was in a wheelchair. They were on Pan Am Flight 1736. I lay down on my family, my small child and other baby . Having failed to find an American, the militants settled for someone British. 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. He said images of the suspects obtained by the FBI in the year 2000 were age-progressed by the FBI Laboratory. 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 changed my perception. '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. 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. She went back to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. The main leader, who was directing the other three men, was in charge of our compartment. 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. I was drenched in her blood. The door nearest the wing had been opened in manual, which meant that the emergency slide did not deploy. 2023 BBC. But I opted to carry a young lady, who was severely injured and sadly died in my arms. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. I noticed that the evacuation hatch on the ceiling of the cockpit was open, but I pretended not to. He also recommended that the Bureau of Prisons assign the defendant to the Administrative Maximum facility in Florence, Colorado, also referred to as "SuperMax. After 33 years, the tragedy is still haunting. One person opened the door that led to the wing of the plane. Safarini was still on board when Pakistan's security forces entered the plane. He spoke to Witness about that terrible disaster. 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). Dilip Bidichandani, another steward, is adamant that the pilots' escape actually saved more lives.