Pan Am Flight 73

Pan Am Flight 73, a Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121, was hijacked on September 5, 1986, by four armed men of the Abu Nidal Organization. The aircraft, with 360 on board, had just arrived from Sahar International Airport in Bombay, India and was preparing to depart Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan for Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, ultimately continuing on to John F. Kennedy International Air... more

Pan Am Flight 73, a Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121, was hijacked on September 5, 1986, by four armed men of the Abu Nidal Organization. The aircraft, with 360 on board, had just arrived from Sahar International Airport in Bombay, India and was preparing to depart Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan for Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, ultimately continuing on to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. At least 20 died during the hijacking, including citizens of the United States, Pakistan, India, and Mexico. Over 120 passengers were wounded in the assault. The incident began as passengers boarded the Frankfurt-bound aircraft in Karachi. A subsequent FBI investigation revealed that the hijack occurred despite the presence of armed agents near the aircraft. The four hijackers were dressed as Karachi airport security guards and were armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts. At about 06:00... less