| Name(s) |
NEERJA BHANOT |
| Date of
Birth |
September 07, 1963
– Chandigarh, India. |
| Date of
Death |
September 05, 1986
– Karachi, Pakistan. |
|
Identity |
Indian Flight
Attendant with PanAm |
|
Other Events &
Developments |
- She was a flight attendant for Pan Am, based in Bombay,
India.
- Born in Chandigarh, India, she was the daughter of
Harish Bhanot, a Mumbai based journalist.
- She married in March, 1985 but the marriage turned sour
following dowry pressure and she returned to her parents'
home in Mumbai within two months.
- Subsequently, she went to Miami for training as a flight
attendant but was appointed as a purser.
- She was on duty on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73,
hijacked by four heavily armed terrorists on September 05,
1986 after it landed at Karachi from Mumbai. Neerja alerted
the cockpit crew about the hijack.
- As the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member cockpit
crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer were able to
flee from the aircraft.
- Neerja, being the most senior cabin crew member on
board, took charge.
- The hijackers were part of the Palestinian Abu Nidal
terrorist organization and were backed by Libya.
- The terrorists then instructed Neerja to get the
passports collected of all the passengers, so that they
could identify the Americans. Neerja, and the other
attendants under her charge, hid the passports of the 40
Americans on board.
- After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off
explosives. Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a
number of passengers escape. She did not herself escape, and
died while shielding 3 children from a hail of bullets.
- Neerja was recognised internationally as "the heroine of
the hijack".
- The hijackers, were captured by Pakistan and sentenced
to death in 1988 but later commuted to life in prison.
- With the money from the insurance settlement and an
equal contribution from Pan Am, Neerja's 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 to an Indian woman
who, when faced with social injustice like dowry, desertion
etc. overcomes it with guts and grit AND then helps other
women in similar social distress.
- The award includes a sum of INR 1,50,000, a trophy and a
citation.
|
|
Awards & Accolades |
- She became the youngest recipient of India’s highest
civilian award for bravery, the Ashok Chakra.
- Flight Safety Foundation Heroism Award, U.S.A.
- Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (Awarded for showing incredibly
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
|
|
Commemoration |
- A commemorative stamp was released in October, 2004 in
her honuor by the government of India.
|
|
