Emilie Meyer
The 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73, a Boeing 747, resulted in the deaths of over 20 people. The flight originated in Mumbai and was scheduled to stop in Karachi and Frankfurt before arriving in New York. At Karachi airport, four heavily armed men dressed as security personnel hijacked the plane, which was carrying 394 passengers and 9 infants. The hijackers were Palestinian militants from the Abu Nidal Organization, and their plan was to force the pilots to fly them to Cyprus and Israel, where other members of their group were imprisoned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Pan Am Flight 73 Hijacking | 5 September 1986 |
| Departure | Mumbai, India |
| Destination | New York City, USA |
| Stops | Karachi, Pakistan; Frankfurt, West Germany |
| Aircraft | Boeing 747-121 |
| Passengers and Crew | 360-394 |
| Infant Passengers | 9 |
| Disembarked at Karachi | 109 |
| Hijackers | 4 |
| Hijacker Dress | Karachi Airport Security Guards |
| Weapons | Assault Rifles, Pistols, Grenades, Plastic Explosive Belts |
| Victims | 20-22 |
| Injured | ~150 |
| Victim Nationalities | India, USA, Pakistan, Mexico |
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What You'll Learn
- The hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 took place on September 5, 1986
- The flight was carrying 394 passengers, 9 infants, an American crew, and 13 Indian flight attendants
- The hijackers were Palestinian militants linked to the Abu Nidal Organisation
- The death toll included 20 to 22 people, with over 100 injured
- The brave actions of flight attendants saved countless lives
The hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 took place on September 5, 1986
As the boarding process was underway, four heavily armed men dressed as Karachi airport security guards and armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts rushed up the ramp, firing shots into the air. Two more hijackers joined the first four, one of them dressed in Pakistani clothing and carrying a briefcase full of grenades. The hijackers were members of the Abu Nidal Organization, a Palestinian militant group. Their plan was to force the pilots to fly them to Cyprus and Israel, where other members of their group were imprisoned on terror charges.
During the hijacking, the flight attendants demonstrated remarkable bravery and composure. Senior flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, along with Sunshine Vesuwala and Madhvi Bahuguna, collected the passengers' passports as instructed by the hijackers. However, they hid the passports of American passengers to prevent them from being singled out. Bhanot asked for British citizen Michael John Thexton to come to the front of the plane, where he was held at gunpoint. Thexton had a personal connection to Pakistan, as his brother had died there in 1983.
The standoff at Jinnah International Airport lasted 16 hours and ended with 20 to 22 hostages dead and about 150 injured. The hijackers fired machine guns and grenades into the passengers, causing indiscriminate killing and injuries. Some hostages were able to escape through the doors, and flight attendants, including Bhanot and Vesuwala, helped the surviving passengers flee. Bhanot was fatally wounded and later died of her injuries. She received several posthumous awards, including India's highest peacetime award for bravery, the Ashok Chakra Award.
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The flight was carrying 394 passengers, 9 infants, an American crew, and 13 Indian flight attendants
On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four armed Palestinian terrorists of the Abu Nidal Organization. The aircraft, a Boeing 747, was carrying 394 passengers, 9 infants, an American crew, and 13 Indian flight attendants. It had originated in Mumbai and stopped at Karachi airport for a scheduled stopover at 4:30 a.m. local time. A total of 109 passengers disembarked at Karachi, and a new batch of passengers had just boarded the aircraft when the hijacking began.
The four hijackers were dressed as Karachi airport security guards and were armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts. They drove a van that had been modified to look like an airport security vehicle, complete with a siren and flashing lights. They rushed up the ramp, firing shots into the air. They were joined by two more hijackers, one of whom was dressed in Pakistani clothing and carried a briefcase full of grenades.
During the hijacking, the flight attendants demonstrated remarkable bravery and composure. They alerted the bridge, and the cockpit crew escaped through an emergency exit. When the hijackers ordered the flight attendants to collect the passports of all those onboard, the attendants hid the passports of American passengers under seats and dumped the rest down a rubbish chute. Senior Purser Neerja Bhanot, who was in charge of the flight attendants, was posthumously recognized for her bravery and gallantry by both the Indian government and Pan Am. She was fatally wounded by the hijackers during their final assault.
The hijackers held 379 passengers and crew hostage and demanded a pilot to fly them to Cyprus to free prisoners there. They executed an American citizen, Rajesh Kumar, to enforce their demands. Twenty-two people were killed, and about 150 were injured during the 16-hour standoff. The Pakistani Special Service Group (SSG) Commandos retook the plane after the onboard power supply was exhausted, and many passengers escaped. The hijackers were arrested and sentenced to death in Pakistan, but their sentences were later commuted to life in prison.
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The hijackers were Palestinian militants linked to the Abu Nidal Organisation
On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four Palestinian militants. The hijackers were linked to the Abu Nidal Organisation, a Palestinian militant group founded by Abu Nidal in 1974. Abu Nidal, or Sabri Khalil al-Banna, was known by his nom de guerre, which translates to "father of struggle" in English. He formed the organisation after splitting from Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The Abu Nidal Organisation was a militant Palestinian splinter group that carried out worldwide hijackings, assassinations, kidnappings of diplomats, and attacks on synagogues. The group was responsible for 90 terrorist attacks between 1974 and 1992, with attacks in 20 countries, killing over 300 and injuring over 650. The group's major attacks included the Rome and Vienna Airport Attacks in December 1985 and the Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking in September 1986.
The Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking was a 16-hour standoff at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. The four hijackers were armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts, and they stormed the plane while firing shots into the air. The aircraft, a Boeing 747, was carrying 360 passengers and had just arrived from Bombay, India. A grand jury later concluded that the militants planned to use the hijacked airliner to pick up Palestinian prisoners in Cyprus and Israel.
During the hijacking, the hijackers demanded a pilot to fly them to Cyprus to free their "friends" in prison. They executed an American citizen, Rajesh Kumar, to enforce their demand. The hijackers also threatened to blow up the aircraft and, when the plane's power supply was exhausted, they fired on the hostages with machine guns and grenades. Twenty-two hostages were killed, including Senior Purser Neerja Bhanot, and about 150 were injured.
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The death toll included 20 to 22 people, with over 100 injured
The hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 on September 5, 1986, resulted in a tragic loss of life, with 20 to 22 people killed and over 100 injured. The flight, operated by Pan American World Airways, originated in Mumbai, India, and was scheduled to stop in Karachi, Pakistan, before continuing to Frankfurt, Germany, and ultimately, New York City, USA. However, the journey was abruptly interrupted when four heavily armed men, dressed as security personnel, stormed the plane during a stopover in Karachi.
The hijackers, linked to the Abu Nidal Organization, held 379 passengers and crew hostage, demanding a pilot to fly them to Cyprus and Israel to free imprisoned members of their militant group. The situation escalated as the hijackers fired shots and threatened to blow up the aircraft. In the face of imminent danger, flight attendants displayed remarkable bravery by hiding the passports of American passengers, foiling the hijackers' attempts to identify and target specific individuals.
As the standoff continued, the power supply onboard the aircraft eventually ran out, plunging the plane into darkness. In the chaos that ensued, the hijackers unleashed a barrage of gunfire and grenades upon the hostages. The indiscriminate attack resulted in the tragic loss of 20 to 22 lives, with over 100 individuals suffering injuries. The majority of the killing was indiscriminate, with guns fired and explosives detonated in the dark.
Among the fatalities was Senior Purser Neerja Bhanot, who was posthumously honoured for her bravery and dedication. Bhanot, along with other flight attendants, played a crucial role in saving countless lives during the harrowing ordeal. Their quick thinking and composure in the face of extreme danger exemplified remarkable courage and selflessness. The impact of their actions extended beyond the immediate incident, influencing changes in aviation security procedures worldwide.
The Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking shocked the world and left an indelible mark on those involved. The surviving crew members shared their experiences, shedding light on the heroism and resilience displayed during those fateful hours. The incident underscores the devastating consequences of terrorism and the enduring impact it has on individuals, communities, and aviation safety.
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The brave actions of flight attendants saved countless lives
On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73, a Boeing 747, departed from Mumbai for New York with scheduled stops in Karachi and Frankfurt. The aircraft, carrying 360 passengers, had just arrived from Mumbai when it was hijacked by four armed Palestinian terrorists of the Abu Nidal Organization. Twenty-two people were killed, and about 150 were injured.
The brave actions of the flight attendants saved countless lives. When the hijackers ordered flight attendants Bhanot, Sunshine Vesuwala, and Madhvi Bahuguna to collect passports from all those onboard, they complied. However, believing that passengers with American passports would be singled out, the flight attendants hid some of the American passports under seats and threw the rest down a rubbish chute. This thwarted the hijackers' attempts to identify other Americans and buy time for the passengers.
As the situation escalated, the flight attendants remained calm and composed, alerting the bridge, and helping the surviving passengers flee the aircraft. When the power inside the aircraft was cut, plunging it into darkness, the hijackers fired on the hostages with machine guns and grenades. Despite the danger, the flight attendants, including Bhanot and Sunshine, returned to the plane to help those who needed assistance. Their quick thinking and dedication to protecting the passengers demonstrate their remarkable bravery and composure in the face of mortal danger.
Senior Purser Neerja Bhanot, who was fatally wounded in the hijackers' final assault, was posthumously recognized by the Indian government with the Ashoka Chakra, the country's highest peacetime award for bravery. Bhanot's life and the events of the hijacking were dramatized in the 2016 film "Neerja." Her story inspired a generation and led to changes in aviation security procedures worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
22 people were killed during the hijacking, and around 150 were injured.
There were 360 passengers on board, as well as an American flight crew and 13 Indian flight attendants.
The victims included nationals from India, the United States, Pakistan, and Mexico.
Yes, all of the hijackers were arrested and sentenced to death in Pakistan. Their sentences were later commuted to life in prison.
