From Flight Attendant to Hero: The Inspiring Story of Neerja Bhanot

Neerja Bhanot, a 22 year old Indian air hostess who helped hide 41 American passports aboard a hijacked plane. She died shielding three children from gunfire and was posthumously awarded bravery medals from India, Pakistan, and the United States.

Neerja Bhanot was the senior flight purser on Pan Am Flight 73, which was hijacked by four terrorists after it landed at Karachi Airport in Pakistan. As the most senior cabin crew member on the flight, Bhanot quickly took charge of the situation and alerted the cockpit crew, who were able to flee the plane.

The hijackers, who were members of the Abu Nidal Organization and were backed by Libya, demanded that Bhanot and the other cabin crew members gather the passports of all the passengers so they could identify any Americans on board. Bhanot and the other attendants were able to hide the passports of the 41 Americans on the flight, potentially saving their lives.

The hijacking lasted for 17 hours, during which time Bhanot did everything she could to keep the passengers safe and calm. When the hijackers began shooting and setting off explosives, Bhanot used her training to open the emergency exit and helped a number of passengers escape. She could have escaped herself at this point, but instead chose to stay behind and shield three young children from the gunfire, ultimately sacrificing her own life to protect them.

Bhanot’s bravery and selflessness were recognized internationally, and she was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra Award, India’s highest gallantry award for bravery during peacetime. She is remembered as a true hero for her actions on that fateful day.