Pan Am Flight 73 survivor recalls escape through emergency exit
A 15-year-old survivor of the 1986 Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking in Karachi, Pakistan, recounts her terrifying escape through an emergency exit. Her son shared her story on Instagram 40 years later, detailing the lasting impact of the traumatic event and her resilience.
Why it matters
This story offers a personal perspective on a significant historical act of terrorism, emphasizing human resilience and the long-term psychological effects of such experiences. It also highlights how historical events are revisited and shared through modern platforms like social media.
Forty years ago, she was a 15-year-old girl travelling alone, returning to the US after a vacation in India. She had no idea that the flight home would become one of the most terrifying experiences of her life- or that the memory of it would stay with her for decades.On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan. The passengers were held hostage for hours before the ordeal ended in gunfire. Twenty passengers and crew members were killed and more than 100 people were wounded, according to the FBI.Among those on board was a teenage girl who survived. Four decades later, her son Rohan Sharma @rohabits, shared her story in an emotional post on Instagram. His message was not simply about the horror she witnessed that day.
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