Justice for Victims of Pan AM Flight 73: September 5, 1986: Karachi Pakistan
| The Incident | Culprits | Victims | US Self Interests |
| Pan Am Flight 73, Scheduled to fly from Mumbai to New York, via Karachi and Frankfurt on Sep 5, 1986 | Hijackers were members of ANO an Abu Nidal organization, Al-quaeda of 1980s | Approximately 390 victims on Pan Am Flight 73 | In 2008 US congress passes Libyan claims resolution act and normalizes relations with Libya |
| The Flight was hijacked ~ 5 AM in Karachi on the tarmac. | Libya provided logistic support, intelligence, ammunition and diplomatic cover for ANOs operation | ~280 were either Indian Nationals or Non-Resident Indians ( NRIs) | US negotiates and signs a 1.5 billion dollar deal to settle all terrorism related cases pending against Libya |
| All American Cockpit crew abandons ship and escapes after being warned by Chief Purser Neerja Bhanot | Hijackers choose Karachi since it was easy target, and Pakistani Government was sympathetic to their cause. | 15 of 20 killed were Indians, Including two US nationals or NRIs | Bush administration espouses only the claims of US nationals. And disowning Indian passengers and the heroic Cabin Crew. |
| An all Indian Flight crew save US lives by hiding American passports. | Pan AM 73 Hijacking was Quadafi ‘s revenge for American bombing of Tripoli | Over 120 of the wounded were Indian nationals or NRIs | Pan AM 103 settlement with Libya does not discriminate between US nationals and non US nationals |
| 16 hours later, when the auxiliary power fails, Innocent passengers were massacred in the hail of bullets, hand grenades and AK 47s | Pan Am 73 was a dry run for Pan AM 103 over Lockerbie, where all 280 people were killed. | The youngest victim was a 7 year old boy. Ashoka Chakra winner Neerja Bhanot sacrificed her life so that others lived. | Flight crew of Pan Am 73 honored by US attorney general in April 2006. This special courage award was the first time non us nationals were the recipients. |
Call for Action: Families from Pan Am Flight 73 Urge Government of India to
Coordinate with The US Justice and State departments to corroborate the victims’ findings on Libyan culpability.
Develop a cell within the External affairs ministry to negotiate with Libya to compensate Pan Am 73 victims of Indian Origin.
Follow the examples of other countries –US, UK, Germany, France and Now Ireland to hold Libya accountable for this terror attack on Indian nationals and seek settlement along the lines of Pan Am 103 families.
The French government withheld approval of removing UN sanctions against Libya, until the French citizens were compensated for UTA bombing.
Hold Pakistan responsible for its role in Pan AM 73, Mumbai bombing attacks and numerous other terrorist acts.
The Liaison Group : Representing the Victims and Families from Pan Am Flight 73
Mr. Aneesh Bhanot (Chandigarh – 98-15-04-70-17); Mr. Gopal Dadhirao (New York – 845-664-3776); Ms. Madhvi Bahuguna (Connecticut), Mr. Jay Grantier (Washington State) , Dr. Prabhat Krishnaswamy (Ohio – 614-419-5386) email : PANAM73LG@GMAIL.COM
So the individuals that were USA citizens at that time got part of the settlement but what about the Indians and the other nationalities that also suffered and that lost someone. Was anything given to them? No for what I know u did not receive any correspondence about this? We were thrown out like trash. Why? This is discrimination!! We need to get to get together and work on getting our justice. We have waited too long and now it is time. We have sat in silence but no more. Justice was supposed to blind and in this situation it has not been.
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