Survivor of 1986 Pan Am hijacking recounts escape and lasting trauma
A woman who survived the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 shared her escape story and how the trauma still shapes her life.
During a stopover in Karachi on September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked, resulting in 20 fatalities and more than 100 injuries, according to the FBI. Among the passengers was a teenage girl who, after an emergency exit was opened, found herself on the aircraft’s wing and was helped down an escape slide by a crew member called “Sunshine.” She survived without physical injury but says the incident’s images are still etched in her mind.
Her son Rohan Sharma posted her account on Instagram, emphasizing that she never let the trauma define her, continuing to travel to places like the Caribbean, the Swiss Alps and Portugal. The story also references Indian flight purser Neerja Bhanot, who was posthumously honored with the Ashoka Chakra for her bravery during the same attack.
Why it matters
The account highlights the long-term impact of terrorism on survivors and the resilience needed to move forward.
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