The Story Of Neerja Bhanot, A Brave Indian Who Saved 360 Lives During The Karachi Hijack

What is the most daring thing ever done by an Indian woman?

It’s difficult to pick one single most daring thing ever done by a woman. But what else can be more heroic than saving passengers from terrorists in one of the worst hijacks in aviation history.

Do you remember Neerja Bhanot?

The successful model who later became an air hostess with Pan Am. The average Indian middle-class girl who became an inspiration for her self-sacrifice. Some people live till eternity and the ‘Heroine of the Hijack’ was one of them.

September 5, 1986:

The aircraft, Pan Am Flight 73, with 360 passengers on board, had just arrived from Mumbai and was preparing to depart Jinnah International Airport in Karachi for the United States.

Neerja Bhanot was the senior most crew on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73.

When the terrorists hijacked the flight, she alerted the cockpit, but the three-member American cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer fled from the aircraft, thus making Neerja, the senior most cabin crew member on board.

She was instructed by the terrorists to collect the passports of all the passengers so that they could identify the Americans.

The hijackers were a part of the Abu Nidal Organization and were backed by Libya. Bhanot along with the other attendants hid the passports of the 41 Americans on board – below the seats and the others in the trash can to protect them from the Arabic speaking gunmen.

After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Neerja quickly opened the emergency door and then she helped a number of passengers escape.

At the end of the hijacking, Neerja shielded 3 kids during the final bloodbath, but was hit by several bullets and succumbed to her injuries. She died just two days before her 23rd birthday.

She became a global icon and was praised for her dedication and commitment to humanity. Posthumously, she became the first and only woman recipient of the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest civilian award for bravery.

In 2004, the Indian Postal Service released a stamp commemorating her and she was awarded a series of posthumous medals apart from the Ashoka Chakra Award.

Flight Safety Foundation Heroism Award, U.S.A.
Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (Awarded for showing incredible human kindness), Pakistan
Justice for Crimes Award, United States Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia
Special Courage award, US Govt.
Indian Civil Aviation Ministry’s Award

Most people become engineers, doctors, filmstars. Few become ‘humans’.

Here’s remembering an inspirational soul on her birth anniversary. ?

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