Thirty years after the Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four members of the Abu Nidal Organization, killing 20 of 361 passengers and one flight attendant, the relatives of the victims and the survivors of the horrific hijacking are yet to get the compensation from the US.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues his fourth visit to the US in the span of two years, the relatives of the victims and survivors of the hijack are hopeful that he will bring the issue of compensation to the notice of the US authorities.
The Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121 from Mumbai to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt was hijacked while it landed in Karachi Airport after the terrorists disguised as airport security personals boarded the flight. In the tense 17 hours that followed, 20 passengers lost their lives and chief flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was killed while attempting to save the other passengers by opening the emergency exit.
The Libya backed Abu Nidal Organization was targeting the 41 US passengers who were onboard the flight, but the swift action of the flight attendants who hid the passports of US citizens saved the life of 39 American as the Hijackers failed to differentiate them from the others.
The hijackers of Flight 73 were arrested and tried and the Libyan government released $1.5 billion to be distributed to victims of various terror attacks, but the compensation was only given to the US survivors.
Aneesh Bhanot, brother of flight attended Neerja said the compensation declared was $10 million for every death, $5 million for every injured person and $5,000 for every hostage.
On May 16 this year, Aneesh tweeted 100 US senators: “The lives of the American passengers on board the hijacked Pan Am 73 were saved by the Indian cabin crew and passengers by hiding the passports of the Americans at grave risk to their own lives. The attack by the terrorists was against American assets and citizens, but the brunt was borne by Indians. Yet, the US discriminated against Indians in 2008-2014 by compensating only the 41 Americans on board Pan Am 73 from the compensation amount given by Libya for this terrorist incident sponsored by it. Can anyone explain why a country which claims to be the moral and ethical `savior’ of the world discriminated against Indians?” Not one of the senators responded.
According to a Times of India report, Bangalore residents Kishore Murthy, 63, a hospital management expert with St John’s Hospital, and Savitha Bhat, 76, sister of former Karnataka chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde – both survivors of the fateful flight hijacking still suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and are yet to receive any compensation.
08/06/16 Dileep Thekkethil/American Bazaar
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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues his fourth visit to the US in the span of two years, the relatives of the victims and survivors of the hijack are hopeful that he will bring the issue of compensation to the notice of the US authorities.
The Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121 from Mumbai to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt was hijacked while it landed in Karachi Airport after the terrorists disguised as airport security personals boarded the flight. In the tense 17 hours that followed, 20 passengers lost their lives and chief flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was killed while attempting to save the other passengers by opening the emergency exit.
The Libya backed Abu Nidal Organization was targeting the 41 US passengers who were onboard the flight, but the swift action of the flight attendants who hid the passports of US citizens saved the life of 39 American as the Hijackers failed to differentiate them from the others.
The hijackers of Flight 73 were arrested and tried and the Libyan government released $1.5 billion to be distributed to victims of various terror attacks, but the compensation was only given to the US survivors.
Aneesh Bhanot, brother of flight attended Neerja said the compensation declared was $10 million for every death, $5 million for every injured person and $5,000 for every hostage.
On May 16 this year, Aneesh tweeted 100 US senators: “The lives of the American passengers on board the hijacked Pan Am 73 were saved by the Indian cabin crew and passengers by hiding the passports of the Americans at grave risk to their own lives. The attack by the terrorists was against American assets and citizens, but the brunt was borne by Indians. Yet, the US discriminated against Indians in 2008-2014 by compensating only the 41 Americans on board Pan Am 73 from the compensation amount given by Libya for this terrorist incident sponsored by it. Can anyone explain why a country which claims to be the moral and ethical `savior’ of the world discriminated against Indians?” Not one of the senators responded.
According to a Times of India report, Bangalore residents Kishore Murthy, 63, a hospital management expert with St John’s Hospital, and Savitha Bhat, 76, sister of former Karnataka chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde – both survivors of the fateful flight hijacking still suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and are yet to receive any compensation.
08/06/16 Dileep Thekkethil/American Bazaar
