Neerja Bhanot saved 360 lives on Pan Am Flight 73 which had been hijacked by terrorists during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986, just two days before her 23rd birthday.

She alerted the pilots of terrorists and they escaped, so the plane couldn’t take off.

She hid passports to save Americans, the terrorists’ primary targets. After 17 hours, the hijackers decided they had had enough and opened fire, Bhanot worked fast to evacuate as many passengers as she could via the emergency exit. She was shot dead as she shielded three American children from the terrorists. 

Out of the 44 Americans on board, 42 were saved owing to Bhanot’s presence of mind. 

Bhanot’s calm courage and quick instincts led to a slew of posthumous awards, including the Ashoka Chakra — India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. She was the first woman, first civilian, and youngest recipient of the award. 

Her citation states: “Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit.” 

Her story continues to inspire young women, and in order to commemorate her courage, Bhanot’s family used the funds from Pan Am to set up the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust. The trust recognises Indian women who overcome social injustice and airline crew members who go beyond the call of duty in a crisis. 

Among other honours, Bhanot was conferred with the Tamgha-e-Insaniyat award by Pakistan, and in 2004, the Indian Postal Service released a stamp in her memory. 

In 2016, Ram Madhvani directed a biopic starring Sonam Kapoor as Neerja. The biopic is a stylised thriller with a few lovely glimpses into Bhanot’s personal life, especially her relationship with her mother (played by Shabana Azmi). The film, too, won a number of awards, including the National Award for the Best Feature Film in Hindi.

She is a hero.

https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/neerja-bhanot-the-braveheart-flight-attendant-was-never-one-to-run-away-from-a-crisis/286726

https://www.panam.org/global-era/591-neerja-bhanot-2

https://simpleflying.com/neerja-bhanot-story