Neerja Bhanot, AC (Hindi: नीरजा भनोत; 7 September 1963 – 5 September 1986),[1] was a purser for Pan Am, based in Mumbai, India, who was shot and killed while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73
on 5 September 1986. Posthumously, she became the youngest and the only
woman recipient of India's highest peacetime military award for
bravery, the Ashok Chakra.[2][3]
The hijackers were part of the terrorist Abu Nidal Organization and were backed by Libya. The terrorists then instructed Bhanot to collect the passports of all the passengers so that they could identify the Americans. The terrorists wanted to put pressure on America by identifying and threatening the Americans on the aircraft. Bhanot and the other attendants under her charge hid the passports of the 41 Americans on board; some under a seat and the rest down a rubbish chute so that the hijackers could not differentiate between American and Non-American citizens.[7][6]
After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Bhanot opened one of the doors, flung open an emergency chute, and assisted passengers from the aircraft. She could have been the first to jump out when she opened the door but she decided not to and was shot while shielding three children from a hail of bullets. Out of a total of 41 American passengers, only 2 were killed during firing. One of the children, then aged 7, is now a captain for a major airline and has stated that Bhanot has been his inspiration and he owes every day of his life to her. Bhanot was recognized internationally as "the heroine of the hijack" and is the youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra Award, India's most prestigious gallantry award for bravery during peace time.[7][8][6]
This incident occured just two days before her twenty-third birthday. She had invited her family to meet for her 23rd birthday. Not only had she ensured the failure of the hijacking by preventing the plane from getting off the ground, but also saved the lives of hostages in those long hours of incarceration. Bhanot also posthumously received multiple awards for her courage from the United States government.[7][9]
For her bravery, the Government of India posthumously awarded Bhanot the Ashoka Chakra Award
(India's highest gallantry award for bravery in the face of the enemy
during peace time), and Bhanot became its youngest recipient. In 2004
the Indian Postal Service released a stamp commemorating her.[12][13]
With insurance money and an equal contribution from Pan Am for using the brand Pan Am in the title, her parents set up the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust. The trust presents two awards every year, one for a flight crew member, worldwide, who acts beyond the call of duty and another, the Neerja Bhanot Award, to an Indian woman who when faced with social injustice such as dowry or desertion difficulties and then helps other women in similar social distress. The award includes a sum of INR 1,50,000, a trophy and a citation.[14][15][6]
Bhanot's brother Aneesh went to Washington, D.C.
in 2005 to receive the 'Justice for Crimes Award' awarded posthumously
to her as part of the 'Annual Crime Rights Week' at a ceremony held at
the United States Attorney's office for the District of Columbia.[16]
In 2006, she and the other Pan Am Flight 73 flight attendants and Pan
Am's flight director for Pakistan were awarded the Special Courage award
by the United States Department of Justice.[17]
The civil aviation ministry of India conferred an honor on Bhanot posthumously on 18 February 2010 in New Delhi on the occasion of the launch of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian aviation..
Bhanot had two brothers, Akhil and Aneesh. Her father, Harish Bhanot, worked as a journalist with The Hindustan Times for more than 30 years and died on 31 December 2007 in Chandigarh at the age of 86.[18] Her mother, Rama Bhanot, died on 5 December 2015.[19]
Early life and education
Neerja Bhanot was born in Chandigarh, East Punjab, India, the daughter of Harish Bhanot, a Mumbai-based journalist, and Rama Bhanot.[4] She received her early schooling at Sacred Heart Sen. Sec. School, Chandigarh. After moving to Mumbai, she completed her schooling in Bombay Scottish School and continued to St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. It was in Mumbai, where she was first spotted for a modelling assignment which began her modelling career.[5]Career
Bhanot applied for a flight attendant job with Pan Am, when it decided to have an all Indian crew for its Asian clients, and upon selection, went to Miami for training as a flight attendant but returned as purser.[1][6]1Hijacking
Bhanot was the senior flight purser on Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Mumbai to USA, which was hijacked by four armed men on 5 September 1986 at Karachi airport in Pakistan. The aircraft was carrying 361 passengers and 19 crew members. The terrorists wanted to fly to Cyprus and wanted to release some of their members from jail. After the terrorists boarded the plane, Bhanot alerted the cockpit crew. As the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member American cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer evacuated the aircraft through an overhead hatch in the cockpit per their training so that the aircraft could not be forcibly flown. Bhanot, being the most senior cabin crew member remaining aboard, took charge.[7][8][6]The hijackers were part of the terrorist Abu Nidal Organization and were backed by Libya. The terrorists then instructed Bhanot to collect the passports of all the passengers so that they could identify the Americans. The terrorists wanted to put pressure on America by identifying and threatening the Americans on the aircraft. Bhanot and the other attendants under her charge hid the passports of the 41 Americans on board; some under a seat and the rest down a rubbish chute so that the hijackers could not differentiate between American and Non-American citizens.[7][6]
After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Bhanot opened one of the doors, flung open an emergency chute, and assisted passengers from the aircraft. She could have been the first to jump out when she opened the door but she decided not to and was shot while shielding three children from a hail of bullets. Out of a total of 41 American passengers, only 2 were killed during firing. One of the children, then aged 7, is now a captain for a major airline and has stated that Bhanot has been his inspiration and he owes every day of his life to her. Bhanot was recognized internationally as "the heroine of the hijack" and is the youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra Award, India's most prestigious gallantry award for bravery during peace time.[7][8][6]
This incident occured just two days before her twenty-third birthday. She had invited her family to meet for her 23rd birthday. Not only had she ensured the failure of the hijacking by preventing the plane from getting off the ground, but also saved the lives of hostages in those long hours of incarceration. Bhanot also posthumously received multiple awards for her courage from the United States government.[7][9]
Killer
The hijackers were members of the Abu Nidal Organisation.[7] In 2001, Zayd Hassan Abd Al-Latif Masud Al Safarini, one of the hijackers who shot the passengers, was captured by the FBI in Bangkok. He is currently serving a 160-year prison term in Colorado. Four others escaped from Adyala Jail in January 2008 when it was attacked by terrorists. The FBI announced a $5 million bounty on their heads. In January 2010, Pakistani intelligence officials announced that a drone attack in the North Waziristan tribal region had killed one of the released hijackers, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim. His death was never confirmed and he remains on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists and Rewards for Justice Program lists.[10][11]After death
"
Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever
be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit".
Ashok Chakra citation[1]
With insurance money and an equal contribution from Pan Am for using the brand Pan Am in the title, her parents set up the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust. The trust presents two awards every year, one for a flight crew member, worldwide, who acts beyond the call of duty and another, the Neerja Bhanot Award, to an Indian woman who when faced with social injustice such as dowry or desertion difficulties and then helps other women in similar social distress. The award includes a sum of INR 1,50,000, a trophy and a citation.[14][15][6]
Postal Stamp released by Indian Postal Service on October 8, 2004, commemorating Neerja Bhanot sacrifice and services to the nation.
The civil aviation ministry of India conferred an honor on Bhanot posthumously on 18 February 2010 in New Delhi on the occasion of the launch of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian aviation..
Personal life and family
Bhanot had an arranged marriage in March 1985 and joined her husband in the Gulf. However, the marriage turned sour following alleged dowry pressure and she returned to her parents' home in Mumbai within two months.Bhanot had two brothers, Akhil and Aneesh. Her father, Harish Bhanot, worked as a journalist with The Hindustan Times for more than 30 years and died on 31 December 2007 in Chandigarh at the age of 86.[18] Her mother, Rama Bhanot, died on 5 December 2015.[19]
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