Book Description

On Angels Wings is a true story about the bombing of the Air India AI-182 Kanishka aircraft. The first part of a trilogy on this subject, it is an inspirational autobiography and details the search and rescue, the criminal law trial, failed court cases, and a son's fight for justice for 38 years, who was orphaned at 17 years. The Air India 182 Kanishka bombing off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, was the worst act of aviation terror until the 9/11 attacks. A true airplane crash story, It is the worst airline bombing, killing 331 people, including 86 children. A motivational story of a young man’s resilience, grit, and determination to succeed against all odds, it chronicles Sanjay Lazar's incredible journey from despair to hope, and how he overcame adversity to emerge as a successful aviator & lawyer. A true tale of leadership, of a boy who conquered death, a tale of human triumph over tragedy, to succeed against all odds, blessed by his own angels. It recounts his decades-long fight for justice, the period of his participation in the Kanishka criminal trial in Vancouver for the Air India bombings, and later fighting for individual standing before the Justice John Major Inquiry Commission, headed by the retired Judge. He joined Air India and excelled there, becoming a merit award winning crew member, and rose to become a part of the elite VVIP Fleet of Air India One, flying the President and Prime Ministers of India, where he served for more than 12 years.The Book details his trysts with destiny and his idols, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, JRD Tata and Balasaheb Thackeray Ji. He became the youngest Trade Union leader of the national trade union AICCA and was its general secretary for more than 25 years and handled issues such as the privatisation of India, worker rights, and numerous court cases on fundamental rights before the High Court and Supreme Court of India. Book Extract : That night, around 2:30 a.m., we were abruptly awakened by blaring sirens and announcements on the hotel’s PA system, urging immediate evacuation. “This is an evacuation warning.” “This is not a drill.” “Please evacuate the hotel immediately.” “We made our way through the corridor, down the fire escape, and into the open car parking space facing Bath Road. I could see hundreds of people around me, who had also just evacuated the hotel, some running out in their nightgowns and some naked, as the splitting sound of the loud horn pulsated in my ears.” "On that damp, cold night in London, we all stood helpless in the middle of the night in the left and right car parking areas. After a brief period, we saw the bomb squads and London Police, come rushing in with the fire engines blaring.” “Few of us travelled to Canada and attended the trial. We were seated in an area barely 15 feet away from where Malik and Bagri sat during the trial, and for days, we sat there watching the killers of our families.” “I will never forget the expressions on the faces of those two criminals, smirking, knowing that they were responsible for the murder of my family and all 331 innocent souls on board that ill-fated Air India Flight 182. Throughout the trial, they sat with smirks on their faces, seemingly triumphant, while looking at the crowd and the families of the victims.” “My family just died again,” “They killed 331 people once more,” and “This was the gravest injustice inflicted upon the victims of the Air India bombing!” As CBC News reported, But Sanjay Lazar had no trouble summing up how they felt in one, biting sentence.” “Today, once again, 20 years on,” he said, “we have lost our families all over again—this time to the Canadian justice system." Reviews : "It shines a light on how justice was obstructed in the Kanishka Air India Bombing Case, the worst act of aviation terrorism globally, before 9/11. Years of hard work have gone into the writing of this book. A must-read book- BARKHA DUTT" "A moving read about courage and determination in the aftermath of the tragedy of the Kanishka bombing - VIR SANGHVI". "Now, at last, Sanjay is taking the time to lay out the whole story. He's "here as of right." He knows the law, he knows aviation, and he certainly knows about bereavement. And this time. He's not rushing from the airport at the very last minute.- TERRY MILEWSKI"