Neerja Bhanot born to Harish and Rama Bhanot on 7 September 1963 in Chandigarh. She was the heart of her family, all of whom called her their ‘lado’.
She studied in Chandigarh and later in Mumbai. And she became a model, endorsing Binaca toothpaste, Forhans and Godrej.
At the age of 19, she was married to a marine engineer and moved to Sharjah, UAE. After two months of abuse, including starvation, verbal taunts and threats, Neerja left her husband, returned to Mumbai and decided to become a flight attendant.
Flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was hardcore Rajesh Khanna fan, she often dream herself in scenarios. For one such imaginary situation, she asked her mother to suggest a plan of action in case of a hijack.
Her mother told her, “Agar aisa kuch hua toh bhaag jaana”.
Then Neerja replied, “Mummy, tumhari jaisi maa hongi toh desh ka kya hoga? Mar jayungi lekin bhagungi nahin”.
But who knew her hypothetical situation will become reality of her life.
On 5 September 1986, Pan Am flight 73 flew from Mumbai to the U.S. with a stop in Karachi, Pakistan. The plane was hijacked by four Palestinian Abu Nidal Organization terrorists who wanted to use the Boeing 747-121 to free prisoners in Syria and Israel.
There were 380 passengers and 13 crew on board the aircraft. All but 22 survived, and much of the credit goes to the flight’s purser, 22 year old Neerja Bhanot who died near the end of the standoff.
The hijacking was not supposed to be an easy as there were armed guards near the aircraft. Hijackers showed up dressed as though they were airport security, and they drove a vehicle disguised as airport security as well.
Neerja Bhanot warned the cockpit crew by using the hijack code to alert them. The flight engineer, co-pilot, and pilot all escaped from a hatch, leaving terrorists with no one to fly the plane.
Then hijackers demanded passengers’ passports. Flight attendants started collecting them. Neerja Bhanot, realizing that Hijack is to threat Americans. She started disposing many American passports hidden under seats and down the trash.
She removed a page out of the flight manual that described procedures for aircraft door 3R. She gave it to a passenger hidden inside a magazine. This showed how to open the exit door and deploy the slide.
She saved many passengers but died at the end.
Awards-
Neerja Bhanot got awarded “Ashoka Chakra” for her bravery. Ashoka Chakra is the highest award for the military in India.
“Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit.”
- She is the first lady to be awarded Ashoka Chakra award
- She was the first civilian to get Ashika Chakra
- Neerja Bhanot received “Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat,” the civilian award for bravery from Pakistan.
- She is the only person on the face of the earth to receive peace award from both India and Pakistan.
- She was the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra award to date.